CINCINNATI — Cincinnati’s Pride weekend attracted a diverse group of partiers and supporters.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati Pride celebrated 50 years in downtown Cincinnati
- Thousands marched while thousands more lined the streets of downtown for the annual parade
- Major brands including P&G, Kroger, US Bank and DHL supported the event with floats and employees marching
Most of the Queen City’s major brands were represented in the parade, from Delta Airlines and Kroger to the Cincinnati Reds and Procter and Gamble, who provided one of the largest displays of support for the LGBTQ+ community. They featured drag queens riding mini floats touting major products and more than 100 employees marched through downtown Cincinnati.
Other groups included military veterans supported by the office of Veterans Affairs to the Cincinnati Public Library and the Zoo, along with the fire, police and sheriffs’ departments.
“It’s so important for everybody to support diversity in every city, in every state around the nation,” said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, who led the parade. “I am a member of the LBGTQ+ community, and so I am so proud to be down here.”
She remembers when things were much different, even in downtown Cincinnati.
“I grew up in this town where you couldn’t be gay. It wasn’t allowed, and look at us now,” McGuffey said. “Not only are people down here who are members of our community but there are lots of others who support us.”
The support wasn’t just from the human variety. A number of dog owners brought their pets to the parade, including Grace Wynn, who painted her pooch, Dale, in the colors of the rainbow flag.
“He loves colors,” Wynn said. “We found some pet safe dye and painted him with paint brushes and took him on a walk, and yes, he’s the brightest, happiest little guy at pride. We love him.”
Despite lots of competition from the most flamboyant members of the parade and spectators, Wynn thinks her Dale turned the most heads.
“He’s the star of the show,” she said. “He’s definitely the star of pride.”
It was the 50th Pride celebration in Cincinnati, with other events schedule throughout the rest of 2023.
