Charlottesville's Pride Festival
attracted a record crowd over the weekend as the U.S. Supreme Court
decides whether it will review a case challenging Virginia's ban on
gay marriage.
The high court announced this week that
petitions stemming from cases challenging bans in five states will be
considered at a September 29 closed-door conference.
In July, the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals in Richmond struck down Virginia's ban. Appeals courts have
also invalidated bans in Utah, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Saturday's event, now in its third
year, attracted hundreds of marriage equality supporters.
“It is a really hard road,” Amy
Sarah Marshall from Pride Community Network told NBC affiliate WVIR
TV.
“That choice should be available to
any two people who love each other,” said Pride Festival Sponsor
Sheri Edgecomb.
“A lot of people are hanging in this
hopeful, waiting and feeling discouraged type of place,” Marshall
said. “But the thing about the festival is it's definitely a place
where you're going to find support. You're going to find community.”