While Pride celebrations across Florida are being canceled or scaled back, Orlando is showing what “Orlando Strong” really means.
Come Out With Pride Orlando returns to Lake Eola Park on Saturday, October 18, from noon to 10 p.m., with the theme “We the People.” The annual event, organized by the nonprofit Come Out With Pride, Inc., has grown into one of the largest single-day Pride celebrations in the Southeast. Last year’s festival drew more than 230,000 people, and this year’s lineup looks just as big and bold.
The day kicks off with a family-friendly marketplace, food vendors, and a sober space before the Trans Rally begins at 1 p.m. The Most Colorful Parade steps off at 4 p.m., and a fireworks finale around 9:30 p.m. Three entertainment stages will feature local and national acts, from Orlando drag favorites to Grammy-winning DJ Tracy Young. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
But this year’s Pride arrives in a charged moment for Florida’s LGBTQIA+ community. Less than 2 months ago, the rainbow crosswalk near the Pulse memorial—installed to honor the 49 victims of the 2016 nightclub shooting—was suddenly removed by state authorities. Officials offered little explanation, calling it part of a “standard maintenance program.” Many saw it as yet another attempt to erase queer visibility in public spaces…