Ocala Pride Festival

Julicia Gouge, Rachel Bryant, and Hayley

Bramall

Chekea Dollison and Zana Cruz

Ocala embraces Pride

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN SOTOMAYOR

n Saturday, October 19, 2019, Ocala Pride Inc. organizers braved risk of rain, and was rewarded with an amazing event for everyone. Held at Tuscawilla Park, the event was family-friendly, as LGBTQ and straight families mingled among the vendors and danced in the open fi eld before the stage as performers like Mickey’s This and That, Deifendeifer, and Apex took the stage. LGBTQ+ organizations were present, such as PFLAG of North Central Florida, Unity for Ocala, and Metropolitan Community Church. A few community notables included the reining Mr and Mrs Ocala Onyx Valentino and Starr Shine, Ocala Cannibals, Soul Essentials of Ocala, host of “Mama Knows Best” Talk Show – Mama, and then candidate for Marion County Clerk of Courts, Cynthia Moody. O

Albert Rager and Paula Smith, OPI President

Casey Donahue, Mike Smith, Doug Reed, and Keith Stein

Coreena Bias and Caleb Clyatt

Cynthia Moody and Otto Hoel

Jonnly Springof

Jadan Beck and Joshua Davis

John C, Clarissa Robinson, and Jenna Ilosky

Maylee, Grace, and Noah Roberts

Tyler Anne Hall, Xak Brittain, and Mathew Spencer