Thousands turned out in downtown Lexington over the weekend for Pride 2016. Organizers of the LGBT-focused event were predicting crowds larger than last year’s total of about 25,000.
This year’s Pride included a moment of remembrance for victims of the massacre at a gay club in Orlando led by Pastor Marsha Moors-Charles of Lexington’s Bluegrass United Church of Christ.
MMC: “Although we may not know all the names on this beautiful flag that will be sent to Orlando, God indeed knows their names and welcomed them into their eternal home.”
Entertainment included a performance of now openly-gay country singer Billy Gilman.
The man who made music history at the age of 11 was urged by managers and family to restrict his activities following the Orlando attack.
Gilman: “I said, you know what, I’m going to go out there and be a voice. We have to come together and unite, not only for us but on behalf of those victims that were lost.”
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Gilman’s performance include his childhood hit songs like “One Voice” and “Oklahoma.” In tribute to Orlando victims, he sang an acapella version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
