Photos: Athens celebrates Pride 2023

Photo Gallery: Here’s a glimpse of how Athens celebrated Pride with events over the weekend

By: Ahmed Hamed
Posted on: Tuesday, June 13, 2023

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Last weekend, Athens celebrated Pride month with a series of events. The Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance (SEORA), the Ohio University LGBT Center, and other local partners organized them. The Pride events honored the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community in Athens and the region. They also raised awareness and support for LGBTQ+ issues and rights.

Events included the parade, the drag show, the heritage walk and family field day.

The heritage walk explored the LGBTQ+ history of Athens, led by Mickey J. Hart, Executive Director of United Campus Ministries: For Spiritual Growth & Social Justice and the former LGBT Center Director the event was organized by Appalachian Understories.

Two young people hold a banner that says “Happy Pride” as they march along Court Street during the Pride parade on June 10, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Two participants, one of them in a wheelchair, bring their dogs to the Pride parade on June 10, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. The dogs wear rainbow-colored bandanas and leashes. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

A group of OhioHealth employees and volunteers hold a banner and balloons with rainbow flags as they participate in the Pride parade on June 10, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. OhioHealth is one of the sponsors of the Pride month activities in Athens. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

A dog dressed in a rainbow outfit participates in the Pride parade on June 10, 2023, in Athens, Ohio. The dog looks happy and proud as it walks with its owner. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Silicone wristbands with rainbow colors and the words “Athens Pride Fest 2023” are displayed on the organizers’ table during the Pride month activities in Athens, Ohio. The wristbands are a symbol of support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Mystique Monroe, a drag queen from Columbus, entertains the crowd with her performance at the drag show on June 10, 2023. In Athens, Ohio[Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Drag queen Miss Lady Dior poses for the camera after her show at the drag show on June 10, 2023. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

A wide shot of the drag show at Eclipse Company Store in The Plains on June 10, 2023. The drag show was one of the events of the Pride month activities in Athens, Ohio. The show featured local performers and guests from Columbus and Cincinnati. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Drag queen Sabrina Caprice Heartt performs in front of the audience during the drag show at Eclipse Company Store in The Plains on June 10, 2023. Sabrina Caprice Heartt is one of the local performers who participated in the Pride month activities in Athens, Ohio. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Lacey Jae, a tarot card reader, sits in a tent at the Athens Pride Family Field Day on June 11, 2023. The family field day was one of the events of the Pride month activities in Athens, Ohio. It offered fun and games for all ages. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]

Mickey J. Hart, the leader of the Appalachian Pride Heritage Walking Tour, talks to the participants of the walk on June 11, 2023. The walk was one of the events of the Pride month activities in Athens, Ohio. It explored the LGBTQ+ history of Athens on the Ohio University campus and part of uptown Athens. [Ahmed Hamed | WOUB]