Lexington’s Pride Festival honors Orlando shooting victims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-Of course the attacks in Orlando and the possible threat to the LA Pride Fest are on the back of everyone’s mind but as you can see the energy is lively here and for many they say their pride is even louder.

Drag Queen Shotz With A Z says, “I think it’s really banded everyone together to say we’re not going to live in fear. We’re going to come out, we’re going to be proud, and we’re going to wave our banners and not let anyone deter us from being who we are.”

Just hours after the attacks in Orlando, and a man in Santa Monica was caught with weapons heading to the LA Pride Parade, organizers of Lexington’s Pride Fest worked to ensure safety here at home.

Sarah Brown with Lexington Pride Festival says, “We work with the police every year and of course with the recent events we wanted to step it up just a bit to be safe, but we haven’t had any threats or anything going on.”

And many attendees say in wake of recent events they’re thankful for the added security.

Charles Laytart of Lexington says, “It’s a little scary because you don’t know when it could happen in your community and you hope and pray it never does happen again, but you don’t know that. But you can’t stay at home and not live your live. You got to be who you are and what you are and be proud of that.”

In solidarity with the victims in Orlando an emotional tribute, the crowd counted up the 49 victims of the massacre at Pulse Nightclub.

Laytart says, “It was pretty incredible, you know, just to take the time to remember people that lost their lives just by being who they are and what they are and just trying to fit in with the rest of the world.”

The LGBT community supported by those who don’t even walk in the same shoes.

Ella Rutledge of Lexington says, “I just love everyone and love having fun so that’s why I came out and my sister’s visiting from out of town so I wanted to share Lexington’s pride.”

Blain Grubbs of Lexington says, “Our allies have been right there with full support with us and it’s just overwhelming to have so many people there for us.”

A community standing together against hate and embracing diversity,

Shotz With A Z says, “It makes me very happy that people didn’t let things like that stop them…it instead invigorated them.”