Empower It: The Rebirth of Pride in the 2010s

By 2010, the spirit of Pride had gone quiet—but not for long. Local activist Jerry Rosenberg gathered a passionate group of volunteers with one goal: bring Pride back to Jacksonville. They had no budget, no major sponsors, and no roadmap—just grit, love, and a commitment to visibility. That fall, River City Pride held a revived Pride Festival and Parade that brought joy and energy back into the heart of the community.

In the years that followed, River City Pride gained nonprofit status, built deep partnerships, and continued to grow. The 2019 Pride celebration was the largest to date, honoring the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and welcoming stars like Chad Michaels and Kennedy Davenport. Corporate sponsors, churches, drag performers, and thousands of locals all came together to celebrate resilience and resistance. This era showed what was possible when passion meets organization.