Nearly 120,000 people filled downtown Orlando Saturday evening for the big Come Out With Pride Festival at Lake Eola Park.
It was the ninth year in a row for the festival, which also featured Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs as part of the opening ceremonies.
Mayor Jacobs said she’s was there to honor her personal aid who passed away earlier this summer.
Other festival attendees said they also noticed more families taking part in the event.
Something they said was a welcome change.
“There’s a lot of families here. There’s a lot of children. You know, a child knows love and prejudice is taught. So, it’s great that we’re teaching that it’s not being prejudice, but as a young child to accept and be open,” said festival volunteer Stacy Marcum.
State Representative Joe Saunders (D-D49) also spoke at the event.
Saunders said he would introduce, for the second time, a bill that would crack down on discrimination against gays and lesbians.
A parade, block party and fireworks were highlights of the event.