CINCINNATI, Ohio — On Saturday, LGBTQ Pride marched through the Queen City.

“I came out to Pride to support my friends and myself and everyone in the LGBTQ community,” said Ashley Frye, visitor.

Frye and her friends came from Kentucky to celebrate for the first time. They say it's a special feeling.

“I love it… it's so much I didn't know what to expect. Everybody is so happy and free and fun… I just love it,” said Frye.

Though now a celebration, Pride began as a protest.

And today, it still represents the LGBTQ community's fight for equal rights and inclusion—a cause important to first time visitor Kate Roach.

“LGBTQ people across this country are facing attacks, and if you don't stand with LGBTQ people today, then you are complicit in their hatred and the discrimination that they face,” said Roach.

The 46th Annual Cincinnati Pride Parade celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, drew a diverse cross-section of the tri-state region downtown.

One group says they've been attending Cincinnati Pride for years, and that coming out to the parade is about living your truth.

“The more you hold it in, the more discrimination you do to yourself,” said Sandra Black, visitor.

“We keep this together… gay is what up…don't never think it's not… we have fun out here,” said Lakresha Mitchell, visitor.

And even though when Pride began some marched in paper bags to hide their identities, in 2019, families make it a regular event.

“It's amazing, like even though it's raining and it's bad weather, but everyone is out here having fun and it doesn't matter what the circumstances are everyone is willing to come together

and celebrate their sexualities and orientations. It's just amazing,” said Adrian Smith, visitor.

And for LGBTQ youth especially, family support is vital to prevent risk of mental health issues, substance abuse risk, homelessness and other challenges.

“I think if people don't have that support, then they're never going to be able to truly be able to embrace who they are and support that,” said Kendra Smith, visitor.

For the thousands celebrating Cincinnati Pride this year, there are thousands of reasons to celebrate.

But they all share one common theme.

“It just means happiness and freedom and loving myself and loving everyone around me and wanting equality for all,” said Frye.