The streets of downtown Lexington were splashed with vivid colours and lively celebrations for the annual Lexington Pride Festival on Saturday. The festival has grown into the regional cornerstone event for the Central Kentucky LGBTQ+ community since its 16th year in 2014, drawing thousands of participants from across the region.

This year’s LGBTI Festival centred on “Unity in Diversity” and encompassed a broad spectrum of activities, performances, education programmes to highlight the diversity of the LGBTI community. The Lexington Pride Centre organised the event, which held the downtown area of the city alive with music, art, and activism.

The festivities kicked off with a colourful parade down Main Street, the Grand Marshal of which was local star activist and Educator Dr. Emily Rodriguez. Marching bands, dance troupes, marching and community organisations were joined by floats with rainbow flags and glittering decorations wind their way through the city centre. As he waved away voters popping their heads out of their houses to congratulate him, cheers and flags filled the streets, a show of solidarity and support.

After the parade, the Court House Plaza was alive with activity on the festival grounds. Booths of over 100 vendors and community organisations were set up some with handmade crafts and LGBTQ+ literature, other with information on health services and legal resources. The offerings were as diverse as there was a commitment to addressing the museum’s myriad needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

There were local and national performers on the mainstage throughout the day. Chart topping singer songwriter Lila Star headlined and brought a message of self acceptance to the audience with her powerful vocals. Blasting across the stage to the sound of beer bottles shattering, local drag performers, like the beloved Queen of Lexington, Anita Daiquiri brought high energy to their glamorous costumes.

The Youth Zone, dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth and their allies were one of the festival’s highlight. Here is where the workshops were held: coming out, mental health – and managing relationships. There was also a talent showcase for young performers to take to the stage and to share their storeys.

Mayor Linda Gorton, who attended the festival, called the event a great benefit for the city. ‘This pride festival is what our city has asked for and a testament to diversity and inclusion,’ she said. “For people of all walks of life to come together and celebrate love and acceptance, it is so good to see.”

It was festive but organisers had not forgotten the ongoing challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. The topics discussed included transgender rights, workplace discrimination, intersectionality and its role throughout the LGBTQ+ movement. The sobering counterpoint to the celebrations these conversations reminded attendees that there is work still to be done to achieve full equality.

This year’s festival also focused more on health and wellness. As part of a concerted effort with local clinics to encourage people to get HIV tested and learn about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and other sexual health resources, the Lexington Fayette County Health Department also offered free HIV tests. Counselling and support services was also provided for mental health professionals.

Music and dance both began as the sun started to set. “Pride After Dark” one of the “Pride” events is a concert featuring performances by emerging queer artists that transforms the plaza into an outdoor dance floor. A spectacular fireworks display lit up the night sky and symbolised what the LGBTQ+ community and its allies hoped for in its bright future.

The growth of the acceptance and support of the LGBTQ+ community within Central Kentucky is what we see growing today, and the success of this year’s Lexington Pride Festival is proof of that. Organisers and community leaders said, however, that there’s more to be done to achieve full equality and inclusion of all.

Attendees of the festival departed refreshed and inculcated with new found community and purpose. They said many hoped the spirit of unity and acceptance injected by the event would echo beyond the confines of the festival grounds.

Once again, the Lexington Pride Festival isn’t just a celebration, it’s the result of identity, resilience and a fight for equality. While the city continues to anticipate this year’s event and what’s ahead next year, the impact of this year’s festival will linger and multiply, pushing us forward in Lexington and beyond.