Second annual Pride Fest event draws more than 1,800 guests

Submitted by BBH Pride

June 11 brought the second annual BBH Pride Fest and 1,869 visitors and vendors to the Broadview Heights City Campus. Attendance was more than double the previous year, according to information submitted by the nonprofit BBH Pride, which organized the event. 

Guests enjoyed food trucks and music. Cleveland-based band Pop Fiction performed covers of favorites from hair band power ballads to Taylor Swift tributes. Also performing were the Cleveland Pride Band and Windsong, Cleveland’s feminist chorus.

Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Alai, who supported the city’s sponsorship of the event, took the stage along with Broadview City Council Members Jennifer Mahnic and Brian Wolf.

“You are welcome in Broadview Heights. You have an ally here in our city. In the rank of decision-making, this was the easiest thing to without hesitation,” said Alai. “I understand people having other opinions, but it is truly a vocal minority. In a city of this size, you have 19,900 people in support of what we are doing here today.”

United States Sen. Sherrod Brown and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and journalist Connie Schultz also greeted guests.

BBH Pride President Jennifer Speer said her organization’s work has just been started in the communities of Brecksville and Broadview Heights.

“These last two years have been about laying the foundation and bringing more and more seats to the table,” Speer said.

For more information, visit bbhpride.org. ∞

Photo: Food trucks, vendors, and LGBTQ+ organizations offered guests plenty of activities to choose from during the second annual Pride Fest. Photo submitted.