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CINCINNATI – Tens of thousands of people marked 50 years of Cincinnati Pride at the parade and festival along The Banks on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s absolutely more important than ever to continue this fight,” Sonya Powers said.<\/p>\n
The powers that be, like many others, remain concerned about a national movement targeting young LGBTQ and trans people.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
PRIDE PHOTOS: A Look at the 50th Annual Cincinnati Pride Parade, Festival<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s basically everyone being unapologetic,” Paige Rich said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
FULL PRIDE COVERAGE HERE.<\/p>\n
Watch live: <\/p>\n