CINCINNATI – Tens of thousands of people marked 50 years of Cincinnati Pride at the parade and festival along The Banks on Saturday.
The event was a recognition of half a century of celebration that began, and continues to be, a fight for the rights of LGBTQ people according to many in attendance.
“It’s absolutely more important than ever to continue this fight,” Sonya Powers said.
The powers that be, like many others, remain concerned about a national movement targeting young LGBTQ and trans people.
“We can’t let it go,” he said. “We can’t give up. It’s been extremely hard. I know, for me, there’s been a lot of lying days, it feels like the walls are closing in.”
PRIDE PHOTOS: A Look at the 50th Annual Cincinnati Pride Parade, Festival
For others, the day served as an opportunity to let their walls down as a day to be all that they are as much as they want to be.
“It’s basically everyone being unapologetic,” Paige Rich said.
For queer business owners like James Reynolds, who said the drink-while-painting establishment Not Your Average Paint and Sip Company is unique, it’s an opportunity to find a like-minded clientele.
“It’s something so special that only a queer person could pull it off,” Reynolds said. “We’re doing body painting. It’s one of those scenarios where people really have a frivolous look at art, rather than being serious about it.”
Rich said that as a newly out woman, she would continue to use Pride events as an opportunity to show naysayers that the LGBTQ community would continue to exist proudly.
“You keep fighting,” he said, “you keep pushing through, you keep pushing people away who want to beat you up and reminding people that they have no power over you.”
FULL PRIDE COVERAGE HERE.
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