Pride Day will be celebrated in Biloxi: ‘It’s like one big family reunion’
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- GCAP will host its 8th annual Pride Day Saturday at Biloxi’s Point Cadet Plaza.
- The free event features performances, drag shows, and family-friendly activities.
- GCAP promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion through outreach, education, and local events.
The Gulf Coast Association of Pride is hosting its eighth annual Pride Day this Saturday at Point Cadet Plaza in Biloxi. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., attendees can expect to enjoy performances by entertainers such as Tony Dee, Estelle Suarez and Mercedes Alexander.
The free and open-to-the-public event, hosted by performers Regina De Laurentiis and Lexis Redd D’Ville, will feature activities ranging from drag shows to DJ sets.
Founded in 2017, GCAP is a nonprofit organization that provides resources like AIDS awareness initiatives, family planning and substance abuse guides for LGBTQ+ communities across the Mississippi Coast.
GCAP President Todd Sharp began his involvement with the organization as a volunteer nearly five years ago, before working his way up to president. Since then, he said, attendance at the event has continued to grow.
Community outreach
According to Sharp, GCAP participates in numerous community outreach opportunities, such as partnering with Crusaders for Veterans and hosting a toy drive for the Gulf Coast Center for Non-Violence.
“We are an LGBTQ+ community, but we reach out to everybody. We want to be inclusive with everything,” Sharp said.
Catastrophe Nicole Knight, a local performer and the face of Catastrophe and Company, a Gulf Coast drag group, frequently performs at the event.
“It’s a beautiful thing to feel love without feeling discriminated against or judged,” Knight said.
Knight emphasized the importance of events like Pride Day in areas such as Biloxi due to the adversity faced by LGBTQ+ communities in Mississippi.
“It’s an affirmation of love and reassurance that it’s OK to be who we are, especially in this demographic,” Knight said.
‘A wonderful thing’
Jeffrey Mayeaux, a GCAP board member and 2023 Pride King, highlighted the educational aspect of Pride Day.
“We have a large gay population here on the Coast, and that’s a wonderful thing for people to see,” Mayeaux said.
According to Mayeaux, Pride Day can be a learning experience for everyone, including performers.
“Everyone has a lot to learn, even myself. Performers get to talk in the dressing rooms and help [newer performers] enhance their careers by showing them the ropes,” Mayeaux said.
Miss Jessica Emms, a local performer and GCAP Pride Queen 2024, hopes that events like Pride Day will promote inclusivity between diverse social groups.
“My vision is that one day we won’t talk about a gay community or straight community. It’ll just be our community,” Emms said.
Knight said that attendees should go to Pride Day with an open mind.
“I would go with the expectations of love and to be loved, because that’s what the event is about. ... It’s like one big family reunion,” Knight said.
This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
