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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - What began arsenic a tiny question much than 3 decades agone has present grown into the largest LGBTQ+ solemnisation successful the Central Valley.
On Saturday, the Tower District was filled with music, color, and almighty messages arsenic thousands gathered for the 35th Annual Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival— a vibrant time honoring love, diversity, and community.
More than conscionable a celebration, the parade served arsenic a harmless abstraction for radical of each backgrounds to explicit themselves freely and enactment 1 another.
“Just emotion everybody. Everybody is human. Everybody’s people,” said Lori, who attended the parade.
Levi Koontz says Pride is astir embracing who you are.
“No substance wherever you travel from... emotion is love,” Koontz said. “When I came out, you cognize what my ma and grandma said? ‘Are you happy?' That is what matters."
For many, similar Alexis Perez, Pride is besides a accidental to springiness backmost and uplift section nonprofits that enactment year-round to enactment the community.
“This is astir apt my 2nd clip [attending Pride], and I’m not conscionable present showing enactment to my friends,” Perez said. “Casita Feliz and different nonprofits are doing their happening retired present — I’m conscionable showing backmost love.”
While paraders, nutrient vendors, and euphony helped make a festive atmosphere, galore echoed the aforesaid message: Pride is yet astir visibility, acceptance, and unity.
“Me being present means inclusivity,” Lori added. “Love everybody, judge everybody — it doesn’t substance what they place arsenic oregon who they are. That’s what this time is each about.”
As Fresno continues to turn its Pride solemnisation twelvemonth aft year, truthful excessively does the consciousness of unity and visibility for LGBTQ+ residents and their allies.
