Thousands gather in Downtown Dayton for Pride parade, festival

DAYTON — The Dayton Pride parade and festival took over Downtown Dayton Saturday afternoon with June being Pride Month.

>>PHOTOS: Thousands gather to Downtown for Dayton Pride parade

Rick Flynn, the executive director of Greater Dayton LGBT Center, said there has been a lot of interest in this weekend’s events.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dayton Pride organizers, police discuss security for events as LGBTQ+ threats rise nationwide

He attributes that to people in the Miami Valley standing up to LGBTQ hate across the country.

“I think it’s more important than ever that we get out and we show people who we are here,” Flynn told News Center 7. “I’ve always said I think people are afraid of what they don’t understand. And if you don’t know someone who’s LGBTQ plus, come meet somebody, you’ll find out that we’re not how we’re being portrayed.”

There are still events taking place this weekend.

>>Many expected at ‘Running with Pride’ this weekend at Eastwood MetroPark

‘Running with Pride,’ a 5-K run, will take place Sunday morning at Eastwood MetroPark.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Thousands gather to Downtown for Dayton Pride parade Photo from: Taylor Robertson/Staff