Then with what happened in Florida, I thought this was the perfect time,' said Kimberly Bowling of Jackson, who drove about 1.5 hours with family members and a friend to attend. That includes the start of the festival on Friday night, today's parade and the expected crowd as the festival continues tonight in and around Goodale Park. Lori Gum, Pride coordinator, said early estimates showed attendance for the weekend nudging the 500,000 mark, which would be Columbus Pride's largest-ever crowd. Some of the people attending the Pride parade and associated festival said they were there to show solidarity for the LGBTQ community, after a gunman claiming allegiance to ISIS killed 49 people and injured another 53 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Tutus and tiaras, Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' over loudspeakers, and police horses sprinkled with glitter: They all helped Stonewall Columbus Pride parade-goers overcome fear and tears today, in the wake of last weekend's deadly attack at a Florida gay bar.
