{"id":24369,"date":"2019-06-10T14:29:08","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T19:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=24369"},"modified":"2019-06-10T14:30:17","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T19:30:17","slug":"dayton-shows-pride-in-the-face-of-hate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2019\/06\/10\/dayton-shows-pride-in-the-face-of-hate\/","title":{"rendered":"Dayton Shows Pride in the Face of Hate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After facing a hateful demonstration by members of the KKK and at least 15 tornadoes destroying homes and businesses, Dayton needed a reason to raise their heads up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\tCitizens gathered together to celebrate what makes them special over the first weekend in June for Dayton Pride 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 5,000 people attended the weekend\u2019s festivities, including a performance by the RubiGirls<\/a> and the Dayton Gay Men\u2019s Chorus<\/a>, a \u201cSpikes and Heels\u201d kickball tournament, a 5K run\/walk and the centerpiece of the event, a massive parade and community festival on Courthouse Square seven days after it was commandeered by a hate group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pride is a celebration of all LGBTQ members of the Dayton community; a time for these individuals and all their supporters to put their cares away and embrace who they are in a safe and welcoming environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Credit: Elliana Miller-Young \/ The Clarion)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\t2019\u2019s incarnation of the event is the 43rd of its kind, and the 5,000 person attendance was the highest in the festival\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 55 local and national businesses marched in the parade, including Warped Wing Brewery<\/a>, PNC, CareSource, Equitas Health and LGBTQ groups from Wright State University and Wayne High School. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\tThe main program of the day was hosted by Carrie J. Summers, host of Masque nightclub\u2019s weekly Friday and Saturday night drag shows, Josh Stucky, the founder of the RubiGirls, and Josh Martinez, a host for popular Dayton radio station 99.9 FM. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\tThe trio manned the stage for roughly four hours, introducing performers, holding a runway contest, audience karaoke and giving the microphone to several guest speakers, chief of these being Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\tWhaley spoke on the progress made, and the work that was far from over for the LGBTQ community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\t\u201cWe\u2019re here to take a short break and look back and celebrate 50 years of hard work\u2026 but the work is not done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(Credit: Elliana Miller-Young \/ The Clarion)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\tSummers gave her thoughts on hosting the show and the importance of Pride: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m hot, sweaty and falling apart. But I\u2019m still here, still queer… Pride to me is everything because especially as gay people, lesbian, transgender and gender fluid, you know, whatever you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summers continued:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is so important to own what you are and not be ashamed of it and show the world, because if the world knows that you\u2019re ashamed of it, then they\u2019ll use that against you. But instead we came out and we have masses of people here that are all really proud to be who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RubiGirls announced a huge milestone for their organization, raising $2 million for HIV research and treatment since the group was founded 35 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinclair Community College made its presence felt at the event, hosting two booths for interested citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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