About 1,600 people attended the first Toledo Pride on Saturday at Erie Street Market.  Presented by Equality Toledo and OutSkirts bar, it was a fantastic day of entertainment, food, friends and fun.

The day started off with a family-friendly outdoor Community Connection Carnival from 3-6 p.m.  Representatives from many local organizations, including churches, political organizations, advocacy groups, the Glass City Rollers roller derby team and Outlines Toledo, were present to spread the word about their services and many had games and giveaways.

At 6pm, the fun moved inside and kicked off with an exhibition bout from the Glass City Rollers.  Until 10pm the main stage featured a variety of entertainment offerings including local bands, belly dancers and a performance of selections from The Vajazzle Monologues, a “‘social-comedy’ that fuses radical commentary, HIV activism, ageism, sexism and other social biases with a queer perspective.”

Starting at 10pm there was a fabulous drag show featuring local performers Bois with outSKIRTS, Empress Fontaine, Amber Stone, Thunderpussy, Justyce Sinclair and Deja D. Dellataro.  The crowd cheered wildly as they performed for about an hour.  A DJ rocked Erie Street Market afterwards, while people danced until an encore drag show at midnight.

Toledo Pride ended at 1am, and the party traveled to Bretz and lasted until 3:30 a.m.   After-party goers were treated to more performances by Deja D. Dellataro, Justyce Sinclair and Sabin, visiting from GiGi’s Cabaret near Detroit.  The bar and outside patio were packed with people dancing the night away and celebrating Toledo Pride.

We congratulate and thank everyone involved with organizing Toledo Pride!  It was an amazing event and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.