Florida

Miami Beach Gay Pride Kicks Off

The 7th annual Miami Beach Gay Pride festival kicked off Friday night. It sets off a weekend of drinks, dancing and drag.

And while there's a lot for the LGBT community to celebrate, many activists say there's still a lot of work needed for equality.

"I believe this is the largest free gay and lesbian pride festival in the United States. L.A. and other cities charge to get into their festivals," Emcee Elaine Lancaster said.

The three day event began Friday with a VIP party for donors, and will end with a parade on Ocean Drive on Sunday.

In 2011, 40,000 people attended. This year 125,000 are expected to turn out.

"Its grown because this community has grown," said Hernan Valverde of Miami Beach Gay Pride. "We are such a diverse community with so many people from all over the world that its just become a mecca."

But 2015 Pride isn't just about the party, its also about politics, with equality at the forefront.

"One of our couples has been together 55 years," Valveerde said. "This will be the first year they are married and walk down the parade as a married couple so it means so much more."

In January, the first Florida same sex couples wed after the courts overturned a 2008 voter ban on gay marriage.

And this summer, the United States Supreme Court will decide on the controversial issue.

"For too long we've been discriminated against and this is one weekend where we can go around without fear of ridicule with complete acceptance and we can enjoy ourselves, our community," said Marcus Frisch.

But the LGBT community says equality doesn't stop at marriage and neither does the fight.

Florida Lawmakers are trying to restrict gay adoptions, and in Indiana, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

"People always used to ask me, 'Elaine why is so important to have a gay pride festival? Straight people don't have them?' I tell them straight people don't need them," Lancaster said. "It is so important to be seen and be heard and come out and be counted."

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