LEWISTON, Maine — The Great Falls Pride Week is well underway in Lewiston with more events than last year, according to organizers.
The celebration comes less than eight months after the Lewiston shootings, which left 18 people dead and 13 more injured.
"We felt like we owed it to the community to really provide a lot of space for joy and a lot of space for celebration," Alex Pine, chair of Great Falls Pride said.
The recent tragedy hasn't impacted the celebratory spirit, he said.
"I think that's really wonderful," Pine added.
However, this year's Pride events have become part of the recovery process.
“What’s come out of that is a lot of people wanting to gather together and knowing that’s important, that these things shouldn’t stop us from wanting to continue forward,” Great Falls Pride organizer Tyler Pulk, said. "Allowing people to have a space to be themselves is critical."
Those safe spaces continue for the rest of the week, and until the Pride events wrap up on Saturday, June 8.