Come Home Queer a success before it starts

Event will take place July 15-17 in Conception Bay North

Come Home Queer has become the hottest ticket of the summer.

“We were sold out within the first few days on sale,” organizer and co-chair Gerry Rogers said of the July 15-17 Conception Bay North event.

It’s being held in the small town of Small Point-broad Cove-blackhead-adam’s Cove.

Rogers said recent events in Grand Falls-windsor — where the Salvation Army banned Pride walkers from their church property — show how necessary events that celebrate and support the LGBTQ-PLUS community are.

She said the Grand Fallswindsor Pride participants are welcome to come and walk in the parade on the Sunday of Come Home Queer — it’s public, so people don’t need tickets for that.

The building booked for other events has a capacity of 201, so tickets were limited.

A second Kellie Loder concert has been added and there were still some tickets available for that as of Wednesday, July 6.

“I knew there would be interest, but this has been overwhelming. I feel so bad for those we can’t fit in the building. Maybe we will do this again next year,” Rogers said of Come Home Queer’s success.

“The excitement and the interest has kind of really been fantastic. It’s a little bit beyond our expectations. And we could probably sell another 200 passes.”

She said the town council should be proud of being allies with the community for the event, which is partially sponsored with provincial government Come Home Year funding.

“It’s such a tribute to all the work queer folks have done over the years to get to this point and our allies who have worked side by side with us,’ Rogers said.

On the Saturday of the event, there will be a panel featuring people from countries such as Jamaica, Kosovo and China telling their stories.

There’s also going to be a film and podcast from the event.

“I knew there would be interest, but this has been overwhelming. I feel so bad for those we can’t fit in the building. Maybe we will do this again next year.”

Gerry Rogers