BANGOR, Maine — Thousands of people from across Maine and beyond celebrated Pride in Bangor Saturday at the city’s annual Pride Parade and Festival.
Dozens of organizations and businesses marched down Main Street, including some familiar faces from NEWS CENTER Maine.
The celebration ended with a festival in West Market Square and multiple parks around downtown, with music and vendors.
In Bangor, Pride means a lot of different things to different people, but all were brought together for the festivities.
"Pride means everything to me," Orion Tucker, the lead organizer of Bangor Pride said.
"Being loud and proud," Ann-Dee Spearrin said. Her wife chimed in, "and we’re good at it."
To Bangor Pride attendee Geo Lobozzo, Pride is "a time for self-expression."
"Every time I come to an event like this, I just feel like there's no judgment, whatsoever," he said.
Mark Pellon said Pride is about supporting everyone and being kind.
"For me, being an older gay person, it really is good to see all the acceptance today, and it makes me feel really good. It really feels good for myself, and it makes me feel good about this city," Pellon said.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies from near and far gathered to celebrate love, equality, and community.
"It's the best Pride I've ever been to," attendee Jade Goodiel said.
Goodiel came all the way from Wisconsin and found a welcoming and supportive group of people in Bangor.
"Finding all these wonderful resources, churches, health, it's just amazing how this place is so accepting, and I love it," Goodiel said.
Pastor Mike Rhyne of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bangor said his congregation has been coming to Pride for a long time, spreading a message of inclusivity in the faith.
"To so many members of the LGBT community that have been told they don't have a place, that they don't matter, we're so sorry that you had to put up with that, because that's wrong, because you are loved and wonderfully made, more than you could ever imagine," Rhyne said.
Over 140 vendors, including local organizations and businesses, attended the festival, almost double the number from last year.
Tucker said support from the community was essential in putting it all together.
"This year, Bangor Pride almost didn't happen, so really, our community came together to make Bangor Pride possible," he said. "Really, we thought about the theme as being 'Together we Grow' as a way of growing Bangor Pride, and that's what we've done."
One community organization that spread its message was Maine Youth Power, which aims to lift up LGBTQ+ youth in rural Maine and campaign for their rights.
"Being able to kind of come together and celebrate each other at a Pride event like this is so important so that we can then take the steps to understand each other better and be able to pass laws to help protect people," Saga Hart with Maine Youth Power said.
Pride Month is not over yet. To find more things to do, you can find our full list of events here, or text "pride" to 207-828-6622.