- June 27, 2024
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DJ 27 (left) played all LBGTQ artists from 1978 to the present at the first Ormond Pride celebration. Photo by Michele meeyrs
The first Ormond Pride is held at the Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge in Ormond Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Patrons hang out during the first Ormond Pride celebration held at the Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rachel You (left), Isabella You (center) and Aeryn Cash stop by to check out the vendors at the first Ormond Pride at Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bejeweled Bakes co-owners Olive Hutchens (left) and Ivy Lane (right) sell their baked products at the first Ormond Pride on the deck in front of Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Magic Newman (left) and Steven Harper (right) sell their wookery wares at the first Ormond Pride at Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Magic Newman sets out her jewelry during the first Ormond Pride at Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Patrons peruse vendors' wares during the first Ormond Pride at Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Friends Sheran Martin, April Penne, Sam McGill and Hannah Blake hangout during the first Ormond Pride Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Avery Hart, Unity of Ormond Beach founder and president, thanks everyone for their support at the first Ormond Pride celebration held at the Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Patrons and vendors enjoy the first Ormond Pride at the Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kava Pong is part of the entertainment during the first Ormond Pride celebration at the Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Avery Hart had never gone to a Pride event — not even a parade.
He decided to do something about it and organized the first Ormond Pride festival on Saturday, June 15 at the Kava Kula Bar & Lounge. Nearly 100 people attended and enjoyed a night of music, perused the wares of multiple vendors, played a little kava pong and celebrated Pride.
“I’ve never been to Pride so this is my first one,” he said. “I’m still in a state of shock right now. I’m just so happy. I’m just over the moon. So many people are walking up to me and thanking me and saying ‘I’ve never been to Pride before, this is really nice that it’s in Ormond, of all places’. I’d like for the next one to be even bigger.”
DJ 27 played music by LBGTQ+ artists from the years 1978 to the present while guests sipped non-alcoholic drinks and chatted with friends. Attendees also had the opportunity to get a tarot card reading by Mike and peruse a variety of artists wares, including Bejeweled Bakes, Gabbee Crochet, Mystical Magical Wookery, The Wook Doctor and Octoquantix33.
Hart moved to Ormond Beach from Pennsylvania five or six years ago to be with his husband Michael, who is in the National Guard. Hart is currently an environmental science student at Daytona State College, is a pet sitter and volunteers at both the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet and th
...I want people to know that they're not alone. This club is showing me. When I first moved here, I felt more alone than I ever have in my life. When you have a group like this and a family like this, you really don't feel like a minority any more. - AVERY HART, founder of Unity of Ormond Beach and Ormond Pride organizer
Two months ago, he started the online group Unity of Ormond Beach, which came to fruition from a desire to have an easily reachable, safe space for LBGTQ+ adults, their friends and family. He approached John and Jackie Sekula, the owners of Kava Kula, and asked if he could have weekly meetings at their business. He said the owners thought it was a great idea.
On April 24, Hart had the first Unity meeting at Kava Kula and over 30 people showed up.
“I was not expecting it to take off the way that it did,” he said.
Club Unity currently has 80 members on Discord, an online community where people can talk and check posts for upcoming event information.
Charles Meares was helping with security at the event. A Votran employee, he said he volunteers to give back to a great cause.
“When I found our group, Unity, I found a new family environment,” he said. “We’ve only been around since April and it being our first event, this is absolutely amazing. Our founder is amazing.”
Hart said Unity started as a social club but is evolving rapidly. He would like to make it a nonprofit and have a facility where people are welcome every day — whether they need to talk to somebody or just need a place to go.
Currently, Unity has scheduled a group outing to the Marine Science Center and the Central Florida Zoo. He said he will be combining his love and knowledge for environmental science with his passion helping the community. He already has a lot of interest in doing beach cleanups.
“I just want to say thank you for all the support I’ve received,” he said. “I didn’t expect this much support in Florida. I want to thank my husband for just being there for me through everything.”
He also thanked the Sekulas for their support.
“I want people to know that they’re not alone,” Hart said. “... When I first moved here, I felt more alone than I ever have in my life. When you have a group like this and a family like this, you really don’t feel like a minority any more.”
