Security Increased for Winston-Salem Gay Pride Parade

Winston-Salem's Pride Festival organizers are expecting a record crowd this weekend.

They're also expecting extra scrutiny. With same-sex marriage legal in North Carolina for only about a week, organizers are taking a proactive approach to security.

Keith Hicks is president of Pride Winton-Salem. He says last year's event drew almost 8,000 people from across the region. This year, that figure could reach 15,000. Hicks says the group has doubled the number of volunteer peacekeepers it plans to have on hand for Saturday's parade.

"Our biggest thing is that because emotions are really high right now, we want to make sure that we are keeping our festival-goers and our parade participants safe," he says.

Hicks says the parade always attracts some opposition, but for the most part the protests have been peaceful.

"Typically we get church organizations and stuff to come out," he says. "And all of them are very well-versed in what they're allowed to do and what they're not allowed to do."

Officer Bruce Daniel, special events and off-duty coordinator for the Winston-Salem Police Department, says off-duty officers will work the event, but will treat it like any other parade. He says there were no serious incidents at last year's Pride Festival.