Come Out With Pride event celebrates LGBTQ community
Tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies are set to gather at Lake Eola in Orlando this weekend, showing the community and world that they are “Stronger Together.”
That’s the theme of the 19th Come Out With Pride Orlando event, which takes place beginning at noon on Saturday with family-friendly festivities, entertainment, vendors and resources for the community. More than 200,000 people are expected to gather throughout the celebration, which also includes a colorful pride parade, nationally-known drag headliners and a fireworks display.
“Within the LGBTQ+ community and in our history, we’ve had setbacks but every single time we’ve managed to march forward and overcome them,” said Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come Out With Pride. “The City of Orlando has always been a welcoming and inclusive place and Orange County as well.”
Quiroga said that she and her team faced challenges in preparing for this year’s celebration when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that prohibited children from attending drag shows. Pride’s saving grace has been an injunction filed by U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell blocking the law after Hamburger Mary’s filed a lawsuit against Gov. DeSantis and the state of Florida.
“As an organization, we’re proud of the fact that we have been and always will be a family-friendly event. At the same time, we knew that we would stand in solidarity with our drag community because that is the cornerstone and history of our movement,” said Quiroga, adding that rescheduling or canceling the event was never a consideration. “We’re very grateful that the Hamburger’s Mary lawsuit came and the injunction passed. That directly helps support our festivities and our entertainment.”
The grounds at Lake Eola open at noon Saturday with a marketplace, rainbow ranch youth zone, sponsors, food vendors a sober space and a Trans Rally at 1 p.m. Throughout the day, attendees can catch Central Florida entertainment presented by the Les Vixens, the Renaissance Theater and more.
The pinnacle of pride comes with the “Most Colorful Parade” at 4 p.m., which features more than 100 groups of participants making their way past Lake Eola on East Central Boulevard.
Headlining entertainers are RuPaul’s Drag Race winners LaLa Ri and Monet X Change, who will perform before the 9:30 p.m. fireworks display.
Quiroga said this pride festival will operate at the same caliber it always has, and perhaps even more so this year.
“We didn’t allow the current climate to silence us or impact us. If anything, we’re expecting larger numbers because we know the community wants to come together,” she said. “We need this space after this really challenging year.”
IF YOU GO
Come Out With Pride takes place from noon-9:30 p.m. Oct. 21 around Lake Eola Park, 512 E. Washington St. in Orlando. The festival is family-friendly and free to attend. For more information, visit comeoutwithpride.org.