Rainbow clad peoples of all kinds manifested around the “Toledo Loves Love” mural, also known as the Love Wall, on Saturday to celebrate and raise funds for Equality Toledo.
“It's bigger this year than it was last year. Last year was only in the parking lot,” Brent Rabie, the executive director of Equality Toledo, said of what is the eighth annual Love Fest celebration near downtown Toledo.
An individual in an animal head and a pink power ranger particularly dressed to impress this year, weathering the high temperatures despite the elaborate costumes.
“Visibility is important, especially right now in the political climate, where we have people, even in Ohio, trying to ban drag in public places like this,” Mr. Rabie said.
He was referring to Ohio House Bill 245, which is still in committee at present. The bill seeks to ban public performances of “cabaret,” while also expanding the definition of cabaret to include, “performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s gender assigned at birth ...”
Stigma against the LGBTQ community set the background for Love Fest, where many in attendance mentioned a need to stand against those opposed to LGBTQ rights.
“I'm part of this community,” Jessica Pacynski of Maumee said. “And I wanted to support and also make sure that my community stays safe cause last year there were uninvited guests.”
Ms. Pacynski was referring to the uninvited neo-nazi group, the Blood Tribe, who made appearances last year in Toledo’s UpTown neighborhood, and also in front of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo parking lot.
“They're gonna be loud and proud of their hatred, so we're gonna be loud and proud in our love,” she said.
And the marked feature of this, like many pride events, was live performances from drag queens with loud, upbeat music.
The audience sat under tents to avoid the sun, while still enjoying the festivities.
“We just wanna make sure our kids understand inclusivity and all cultures,” Jordon Swartz said as he and his wife ate with his two kids, while drag performers Solo Jackson and Levi Tracy boisterously demanded attention during their songs.
Sandy Schwartz of West Toledo, who said she’d been involved in the LGBTQ community in Toledo since the days of Caesar’s Showbar, a drag bar that operated from 1980 to 2012, said, “I came out [for Love Fest] for the first time last year and had a good time, and to support our community.”
“At times we feel like it's falling apart, but then we come to these [events],” she said. “People come together and know that there is support out there.”
The need to be present and to help like minded individuals was the main facet of this year’s Love Fest.
“It's important for the people who are afraid to know that there are still some of us who are not,” Ms. Pacynski said.
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