Big crowds for Charlotte Pride Festival in uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 80,000 people were expected to take part in the second annual Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade uptown this weekend.

"I remember getting up on stage last year," said Matt Comer, who is the media and marketing manager of Charlotte Pride.  "It was just a wall of people all the way up Tryon Street."

Comer is hopeful the possibility of North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage being struck down will boost attendance even more this year.

"It's that much more inspiring when we could be on the brink of change with what's happening in Virginia possibly having an impact here," he said.

A U.S. appeals court struck down Virginia's ban on same sex marriage. That same court could rule on North Carolina's ban, which voters overwhelmingly voted for in 2012, soon.

World News, a Christian-based magazine, believes if a court were to overturn that decision it would damage the democratic process.

"For the will of the people to be so blatantly and directly subverted, it will have a very detrimental effect in peoples' confidence in government," said Warren Smith, who is the vice president of World News.

Regardless of the outcome, Comer believes the sheer possibility of more change on the horizon will in turn attract more people this weekend.

"It's really exciting," said Comer. "I think a lot of people who will be at the parade and festival are geared up and ready for that possibility too."

WSOC