JACKSONVILLE, Fla — After the Jacksonville Public Library canceled its pride-themed prom event for Friday, over 200 people have RSVP'd to attend anyway to show support for LGBTQ youth.
The library canceled its StoryBook Pride Prom event that was scheduled for June 28 citing safety concerns stemming from protests. The program was planned to be an LGBTQ-themed prom for teens 14-18 years old at the Willowbranch location.
Since its cancellation, an event has formed on Facebook titled, "Proud of Teen Pride," and is aimed at supporting the kids who had originally planned to attend the event. There are 204 RSVPs to the assembly and 542 who say they are interested in attending.
The event planner says she acknowledges that they may run into "some hateful people," and pleads to those attending not to engage them.
"We are here to show that we are valid members of the community, we support the kids and we stand for equality," Jennifer Miskell writes. "Though it touches us all personally, we cannot act personally; we must act as one force to achieve the same objective: Equality through peace. Love defeats Hate."
The group plans to get together between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
