I recently attended my first LGBTQ PrideFest. Could we do something similar for our pride month?

A few weeks ago, I talked about how I wished Disability Pride was recognized and celebrated the same way LGBTQ+ Pride or heritage months are. In that time, I’ve since gotten to attend my first Pride festival at Cincinnati Pride 2026. So today, I’d like to reflect on what I stood out to me at Cincinnati’s PrideFest and other Pride events I went to in June, as well as expand on what I’d like to see the future of Disability Pride be, since it’s now Disability Pride Month.

PrideFest in downtown Cincinnati was an incredible experience, as someone who was attending for the first time! I was only able to stay for about an hour, but there were multiple things I noticed that I really liked in that short amount of time. For one thing, people were freely expressing themselves as they pleased and weren’t being judged or harassed for it. I saw people dressed in normal clothes, but there were also performers dressed in drag with full makeup and wigs on stage and walking around. I also noticed attendees making other bold choices in expressing themselves, like wearing furry accessories or clothes with bright colors and bold patterns, or lots and lots of jewelry! But everyone at the festival acted like this was all perfectly normal. No one was told they were being ridiculous or too much, or asked to cover up. Everyone was free to be whoever or whatever they wanted to be.

I was also struck by how inclusive PrideFest and other Pride events I attended around Cincinnati were. At PrideFest, I made sure to wear my “Proud Ally” T-shirt to support the community, but I still wasn’t sure if I would fit in at the festival since I’m straight. But while I was at the festival, no one told me I didn’t belong or even gave me weird looks for being at an LGBTQ event as a straight person. And this graciousness wasn’t just extended towards me. Everyone was welcomed at Pride! It didn’t matter what your race was, what part of town you were from (or even if you were from out of town), what your background was, or what your sexuality or gender identity was, everyone was invited to participate in the festivities. Even the vendors were welcomed by the community and were inclusive to the attendees in return! And that included religious organizations at a smaller Pride festival I attended a few weeks before the big one downtown!

These Pride events around Cincinnati showed me not only how incredible Pride could be, but also why these events are needed. At Pride, people are free to be their fullest, most authentic selves and be accepted as they are. It provides a space where they can exist without judgment, shame, hatred, or threats to their existence or even their lives. It’s a reflection of the world they want to see and an escape from the world they’re trapped in the other 11 months of the year.

Witnessing everything at PrideFest and coming to these realizations has made me more certain than ever that we need a spotlight for Disability Pride. Imagine if we had a Disability PrideFest in July similar to LGBTQ Pride festivals around the U.S. during the month of June! Having a weekend where we could radically express the fullest, most authentic version of ourselves with no shame, fear or judgment, just radical acceptance of all that we are. Coming together with people who truly get it and people who support us to celebrate our triumphs, our culture and what makes us unique. And to recognize our struggles and setbacks, and collectively raise our voices to demand change. Music, art, and live performances from local disabled people. Booths occupied by small businesses owned by people with disabilities. A wide variety of foods offered so that everyone, regardless of dietary need or what they find palletable has something to eat. A space, just for one weekend, where we could escape from reality and enter a world where we belong.

And the other 28 days of July? Working together to build, grow and maintain our community and change the world around us. There are multiple ways we can do this. For example, hosting educational events to learn from each other and educate those who aren’t disabled. Holding low-key social events for people with disabilities to meet each other and connect. Collectively advocating for changes from our governments and other institutions. Sharing our stories and experiences with others if we feel comfortable. Flying the disability pride flag on buildings and in public. Exploring how disability intertwines with other aspects of identity, like race or gender. That sort of stuff.

Of course, Disability Pride wouldn’t be exactly like LGBTQ Pride or any of the heritage months, given how we have different needs. We’d need to make sure Disability Pride events were 100% accessible, sensory-friendly and accomodate any other needs that the people from our community have. This may end up being a lot of work, but it’ll be incredibly worthwhile.

I believe that wider public recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Pride festivals is part of what’s led the LGBTQ community to become more accepted in our modern world, and has led to numerous changes. Laws are now in place prohibiting discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity. Same sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. Healthcare is more accessible, and people are fighting to protect it. Positive LGBTQ representation in media is becoming more mainstream. Homophobia is declining as it becomes increasingly unpopular. More and more people are coming out or expressing their support of the LGBTQ community because they feel safe and comfortable enough to do so. If Pride Month could do this much for the LGBTQ community, just imagine what Disability Pride could do for ours!