Pride Month begins: Lexington’s first Pride Parade is June 28 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - LGBTQ Pride Month officially kicked off today, and the city of Lexington will host several celebrations throughout the month to commemorate it. This year’s celebrations will be historic.

For the first time ever, the city of Lexington will have a Pride Parade, and it’s kicking off on Oliver Lewis Way.

“It’s a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, a celebration of who we are and our place within the broader Lexington and Kentucky Community,” said Lexington Pride Center Board President Jason Schubert. “But it’s also a chance to remember the folks that came before us, the folks that fought for our rights to allow us to be an accepted member of the community.”

A community celebration known for its themes of belonging, freedom, safety, acceptance, and love will take place in Lexington on June 28.

“We’re very excited to have our first-ever Lexington Pride Festival parade,” said Schubert. “The official title is Lexington Pride Festival Parade Powered by VisitLEX, so we’ve always wanted to do a parade. It’s always been a community ask, and we’re really excited to be able to produce that event this year.”

The parade will be the opening event for Lexington’s 17th annual Pride Festival.

“I think it puts us on the level of some of our neighboring communities who have had a pride parade in the past, looking at Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville, some of those larger communities,” said Schubert.

Over 15,000 people attended last year’s festival, and organizers hope this year will be even bigger.

“Lexington is known for being very accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community that’s been a part of our history for a very long time as a city,” said Schubert. “It will be a great chance to showcase our community, to showcase Lexington, and celebrate pride this year.”

And everyone is welcome.

“The Pride Festival is open to all ages, all members of the community,” said Schubert. “It’s free, so anyone is able to come and be a part of the festival.”

Schubert says at this year’s festival, you can expect lots of joy and lots of excitement.

“But also remembrance and recognition of where we are right now, it’s a very unique political and cultural moment with a wide variety of individuals and groups of varying powers trying to take back rights and acceptance on the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Schubert. “So to have this chance for our folks to be in the streets celebrating, marching, showing who they are and what pride means to them, will be really exciting.”

To register for this year’s Pride Parade on June 28th, click here.