See photos: Upstate Black Pride SC celebrates LGBTQ+, 'I feel comfortable just existing'

Rainbows appeared in downtown Greenville long before the rain set in on Saturday.

The Upstate Black Pride March and Festival drew hundreds of people from all walks of life to spread joy and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

More than 100 vendors lined the sidewalks, from Free Mom Hugs, Trinity Lutheran Church, and Michelin, an official sponsor of the event, to local artists selling jewelry and handmade items.

Latina Karpinsky with New Horizon Family Health Services recognizes the importance of allyship and showing up for the community.

"I've been a long-time ally of the LGBTQ+ community and I think that everybody deserves to have the same rights and freedoms and respect as everyone else, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity," Karpinsky said. "I will always be here to support them and I would not want to be anywhere else today."

The family-friendly event created space for adults and LGBTQ+ youth, like 20-year-old Kayden Morales of Cowpens, to feel safe and empowered in who they are.

"I think it's really important because I like to dress up and a lot of times other people will give me a look, but here I can dress however I want and nobody cares," Morales said, "People will compliment me and I feel comfortable just existing. I will be out here just walking and I won't be scared. It means a lot, everybody out here all look the same, like me. And that's why it really matters."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: See photos: Upstate Black Pride SC celebrates LGBTQ+, 'I feel comfortable just existing'