Pride events take place in nearly every larger city in America, and Riverside is no exception. Riverside Pride, a local organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Inland Empire's LGBTQ+ family, hosted an end of summer BBQ and street party in Downtown Riverside on September 28, bringing vendors, churches, physical and mental health providers together as well as a collection of amazing food trucks, and a FABULOUS drag show to top off the day.

The event brought together local churches, and physical and mental health groups, and vendors like Cellar Door Bookstore to bring information, services, and products to the local LGBTQ+ attendees. The condom mascot, a familiar site at pride events, was on hand for photo opportunities, and Cellar Door Bookstore hosts a banned book discussion as well as a large collection of banned books available for purchase on site.

Activism is the foundation of Pride, and getting people educated on the current political issues LGBTQ+ people face was a big part of the day with panel discussions on being Out in the IE, local civil rights museum exhibits, and the politics of local and national issues coming up on the ballot soon.

The night capped off with a FABULOUS drag show hosted by Torta Jugosa, who hosts a weekly show at Hamburger Mary's in Ontario each Thursday. Brag performers included local faves like Athena Kills, Mariah Carey Carey, and Marlow the Fish, all while DJ Kontrol Freak spun tracks and kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Riverside Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Pride Inc., AKA Riverside Pride, has the mission to unite, educate, commemorate, and celebrate the diverse LGBTQIA+ community in Riverside, California and surrounding areas. We aim to be the most visible LGBTQIA+ organization in the area, and be a beacon of hope, joy, and support for our community. If you would like to support their efforts, you can check out their website at www.riversideprideie.org. You should also follow them on Instagram @riversidelgbtq.

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