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OC Pride parade and festival ‘Stand Up and Stand Out’ in Saturday’s 30th anniversary event

by in News

  • High Tide Derby members cruise the 2019 “Blaze It Forward” OC Pride parade on skates in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Tuukka, a pit bull shows owned by Sara Dinsmore of Orange takes part in the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Members of VK Entertainment excite the crowd during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on
    Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Ezekiel Merlos, 1, waits for the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade to begin in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The Foxes Show performers take part in the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Susie Scarcella pushes Marti Schrenk along the 2019 Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on
    Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Blaze Bernstein’s parents, Jeanne Pepper and Gideon Bernstein, take part in the 2019 Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade, dedicated to their son in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. Bernstein was allegedly murdered for being gay in 2018.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A magical unicorn seems to be commandeering the iHeart Radio truck during the the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The crowd focuses on The Foxes Show performers during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Members of VK Entertainment excite the crowd during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on
    Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Jamie Haugen of San Juan Capistrano gets a hug from an OC Sheriff deputy during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Kelly Davis of Huntington Beach holds up a sign that she says is a true story. When her son was 18 he told her he was gay, she said. “so, go clean your room.” He is now 30 and was marching with her in the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. He’s now 30. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A dog and pony watches the 2019 Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • David Godess with Glory Center, offers free hugs during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on
    Saturday, June 22, 2019. He embraces Tina Turrietan with freemomhugs.com who was also offering free hugs.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The 2019 Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade cruises through Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sign-holding spectators line the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • High Tide Derby members cruise the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade on skates in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Members of VK Entertainment excite the crowd during the Blaze It Forward OC Pride LGBT Parade in Santa Ana on
    Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The streets of downtown Santa Ana filled with celebration for the 2019 OC Pride on Saturday, June 22.

People from across the county marched down 4th Street in the “Blaze It Forward” parade, named after Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old college student killed in 2018.

Grand marshal for the parade was Brit Cervantes, a program coordinator for the UC Irvine Health Pediatric Gender Diversity Program, which helps children and young adults through their gender transition.

After the parade, more than 100 vendors and concerts welcomed the festival goers on 3rd Street.

The event’s theme this year was “Stand Up and Stand Out.” Organizers said they chose the theme because they saw the event as an opportunity for the county’s LGBTQ community to be recognized.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the county’s first pride parade and festival.