Lake County Pride 2020

Lake County Pride 2020

STORY BY

JOHN SOTOMAYOR PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LAKE COUNTY PRIDE

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While the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 forced other Pride events across the nation to cancel, the debut of the Lake County Pride forged on. Having postponed the event from June 20, 2020 to Sept 19, 2020, the event was intended to be held at Wooton Park in Taveres, Fla. Instead, in order to comply with social distancing, Lake County Pride President and event organizer, Danielle M. Olivani opted to hold the celebration dubbed Pride with a Purpose as a virtual program.

The cyber event showcased over a dozen musical acts ranging from headliner campy drag performances including Ginger Minj of RuPaul’s Drag Show and local favorite Bearonce to the Orlando Gay Chorus. Hundreds of comments were shared on the Facebook page, which live streamed the show. It was also live streamed on YouTube. Comments included “giving me that day club vibes yasss,” “You are giving me life! Big hugs,” and “Shout out to Triangle Connection” the local LGBTQ organization in Lake County’s Golden Triangle communities of Mount Dora, Eustis, and Taveres, Fla. Many posted “Happy Pride 2020 everyone!”

The event was not only a celebration, but an opportunity to bring awareness to various LGBTQ advocacy organizations and charities. Among them were Equality Florida, Lake-Sumter College Gay-Straight Alliance, the Zebra Coalition, and Momma Ashley Rose and Rose Dynasty Foundation, Inc.

Guest speaker, Nathan Bruemmer, legislative director at Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus and vice-president of St Pete Pride said, “Pride events are part of our collective history … and now our virtual Prides will be a part of that collective history when we look back decades from now.” He added, “We unite, we celebrate one another … we fi ght for equality; we take action. It is in taking those actions together that we secure that equality.” He specifi cally wanted to recognize Black

Adam Joseph DJ Bearonce Bear Cherilyn Matthews Darcel Stevens

Parliament House

Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter as two movements that currently require the most support. He mentioned the work of Equality Florida and TransAction Florida that have garnered their resources toward those two movements, which were the recipients of all proceeds raised by Lake County Pride 2020.

TOP ROW: Kelly Jarrard Orlando Gay Chorus MIDDLE ROW: Matty Rants Ginger Minj (RuPaul's Drag Race) BOTTOM: Momma Ashley Rose