This past weekend was the 16th annual Lexington Pride Festival, where thousands of people came out to support The LGBTQ+ despite the heat. There were several modifications to guarantee the safety of particpants at the event as the region had unusually hot weather during the period of the study.

gay pride festival is celebrating at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza in downtown Lexington activities involved; live musical performances, drag shows, great vendors, and kid-friendly entertainment included. But this year the event was slightly different due to the climatic conditions of the specific region.

We have been very careful this time round especially given the heat as festival coordinator Sarah Smith pointed out. Some of the measures we have taken are putting more refrigeration facilities, more points where water is being taken, being in touch with the health department to ensure everybody is safe when festive.

The Lexington Fire Department was charged with having the misting stations set up and volunteers walking around with complimentary water and sunscreen. Several of the indoor facilities around the plaza also made themselves available to allow those participants who needed the break from the sun to cool off indoors in an air conditioned building.

All the same, being a snowy country the crowd did not dissuade but instead many of them showed their obvious Interest towards the function. There have been complaints of high temperatures as has been echoed by Mark Johnson, a regular at the fest. It tells me that “This is such an important celebration for our community, and the heat can’t stop us.”

Local as well as nationally known performers were presented on the festival’s main stage. The main artists were pop icons Lily Rose, a rising singer popular for her support for the LGBTQ+ community and famous songs. As expected the drag show which was still popular as it was last year attracted a lot of people all day long.

Booths were created from local companies and organizations as a means for interactivity which included selling merchandise that was rainbow related to advertising and educating the attendees on the services and resources that are available for the LBGTQ+ community. Present on the scene in order to offer information to the general public about the anti-discrimination laws on the State level, as well as what to do in case of biased actions.

Mayor Linda Gorton joined the event and declared that Louisville remains open to people of varied backgrounds. “We are glad that Lexington is hosting such a great celebration of our LGBTQ+ neighbors,” Gorton said. He said, ‘’This kind of event is perfect in portraying the spirit of democracy, and providing equal opportunities for every individual in the city.’’

The festival also had a family entertainment zone with facilities such as face painting, craft and storytelling for children. Especially popular became this section as parents looked for the shaded areas to keep their children entertained.

This year’s event was greatly informed by local LGBTQ+ youth organizations. The Lexington Pride Center’s youth group stepped up for a panel discussion on the lives of the young queer people of Kentucky.

Throughout the day being on the move, medical teams kept a close watch over the participants; they treated instances of heat stroke. Nevertheless, there were no acute cases that emerged, adequately to the preventive measures established to prevent such occurrences hence no crisis.

The festival ended with a fun parade that took place through the main streets of Lexington, the floats were from businesses in the area, non-profit organizations, and other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations. There were also people all along the street, clapping enthusiastically; some held rainbow flags as an act of solidarity.

Speaking to the success of the day; festival manager John Davis commented, “We are just so pleased with the way the people of this community united for celebration and took extra care of each other considering the harsh weather.” That is, it symbolizes Pride in its truest form.”

Judging by the success of the Lexington Pride Festival, people were able to part ways as a stronger and more hopeful community at sunset. While it was a joyous celebration of inclusion and pride, it could not have been a happy occasion as it showed that Lexington’s LGBTQ+ and its supporters can bend but not break.

Next year’s festival is already being planned and the authorities are thinking of shaking off the summer heat by changing the time of year. Regardless of the year in which this event is organized, the Lexington Pride Festival remains to be a glaring symbol of hope for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population in the heartland of Kentucky.