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Athens Pride celebrates the stories of the LGBTQ community

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ATHENS, OH (WOUB) — Rainbows and balloons filled the streets of Athens last Saturday as the pride festivities took over.

Roller derby team holds rainbow balloons and umbrellas chanting and marching in the parade.
Roller derby team leads the parade. [Talia Milewich | WOUB]
The city held a weekend packed with events in celebration of pride month. The pride parade, which has been held annually since 2018, continues to be the highlight of the pride fest.

“We just feel comfortable to be ourselves, so that’s why we’re here, just to celebrate our big family,” Alex Liopo-Bentley said. He sat beside his husband and their family waiting for the parade to begin.

Drag performance at pride festival surrounded by a crowd watching and rainbow backdrop.
Miss Lady Dior led the drag performances after the parade. [Talia Milewich | WOUB]
The parade started with Athens’ roller derby team followed by drag queen Miss Lady Dior leading the parade as the grand marshal. “It’s important to me to be able to see the community coming together and just celebrate who we are,” Miss Lady Dior said.

Liopo-Bentley shared his story of coming from a place that wasn’t accepting. “The LGBTQ community gave me a safe haven to be myself,” Liopo-Bentley said.

Caroline Merritt is a part of the Ohio University women’s rugby team, which was one of the many groups that took part in the parade. 

“Pride is amazing because it makes you feel a sense of community whether you’re out, scared to come out, proud, whatever it is just for the community to come together and not be scared of the rest of society,” Merritt said.

Other groups in the parade included more local sports teams, health organizations, churches and drag queens.

“You see everybody walking around in things that they wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around in their daily life,” Miss Lady Dior said.

Following the parade she and three other drag queens performed on Union Street alongside the many vendors and activities.

People sitting beside court street before the pride parade begins
Alex Liopo-Bentley and his family wait for the parade to begin.[Talia Milewich | WOUB]
Many people had stories and encouragement to share with others in the community. Liopo-Bentley grew up not having a support system to lean on before creating his own.

“When I came out my parents really didn’t accept me so I moved states and surrounded myself with a family of pride,” Liopo-Bentley said.

Even though he now has a family of his own that accepts him, he still deals with trying to find acceptance in the community as a whole.

“Right now we live in a small town and you still have to kind of shut yourself out, which I still struggle with,” Lipoo-Bentley said. “But every time I go to Columbus or Pride or anywhere we just feel comfortable to be ourselves.”