Riverside’s Inland Empire Pride event turned the Riverside Convention Center into a lively epicenter celebrating the LGBTQ+ community’s power of self-expression on Sept. 10.
Stephen Day
At the heart of this year’s pride fest, “Pride Equals Power” served as a rallying cry that focused on the queer community’s fierceness, resilience and the unbreakable bonds cultivated in pursuing equal rights.
Stephen Day
Talented artists such as Jaidha Sky, DJ Aura Josh and Joey Young graced the main stage with their performances. ASL interpreters were placed on the side of the stage to guarantee anyone could enjoy the event. Mariah Counts, a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, would like to highlight the significance of voices like hers to address experiences within the community.
“We as a community, when we come together, we’re stronger together, we are progressing and we are not going back in history. We’re not letting our rights go. We’re here united.”
It was a celebration of diversity. Attendees felt free to embrace their identities without fear of criticism. To many in the queer community, events like this helped them evolve the importance of their individuality. “It is very much about living your sexual freedom because it was so suppressed, but now because there is so much more acceptance, we’re seeing a lot more younger audiences, and so we’re evolving,” said divaDean.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a day filled with music, laughter, and glittering performances, the Riverside Convention Center stood as a testament to the power of pride and the celebration of love in all its forms. Riverside Pride 2023 was not merely an event; it was a declaration that in Riverside, love knows no bounds. Pride endures. It’s a celebration within a celebration, an expression of power within power.
