Naples Pride Fest celebrates love and community amid legal challenges

NAPLES, Fla. —

Hundreds of people gathered at Cambier Park for the 8th annual Naples Pride Festival, celebrating love, diversity, and community despite ongoing legal challenges.

"It's so important for us to have the celebration here, right in Cambier Park, right in the middle of this beautiful city, so that we have this, like, very visible showing of love and acceptance," said Callhan Soldavini, an attorney and member of the board of directors for Naples Pride.

The event follows a legal battle between Naples Pride and the city, stemming from a lawsuit filed last year over restrictions on drag performances and other event policies.

"In regard to First Amendment violations and restricting drag performances to be indoors and 18 and up, and then in addition to security fees that are being charged to us, which is really charged dealing with opposition to what we're doing here today, just simply existing in the park," Soldavini said.

Organizers hoped to shift the focus from the courtroom to the community, with many attendees experiencing Pride for the first time.

"I'm so excited. It's really fun. It's really nice. The atmosphere here is just amazing. It's full of love," said Garrison Watkins, a Naples resident.

"Everyone just coming together. Diversity, all that. Yeah, I thought it was pretty awesome," said Sumiko Ito, who attended her first Pride event.

From music to colorful decorations, attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate.

"I just feel like no matter anyone's differences, we should just choose to love and just be accepting and just be nice to people at the end of the day. We only have one chance to live, one chance at life," Watkins said.

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