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Despite mostly gray skies Saturday, plenty of multi-colored rainbows were on display at Plymouth Congregational Church.

The downtown Fort Wayne congregation hosted the third annual Pride at Plymouth festival, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

The Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals, the church����app�s associate pastor, said being an ����app�open and affirming����app� church is one of Plymouth's core values.

����app�The pride festival is an extension of that,����app� she said, adding that additional values include advocating for peace and justice for all people.

Nia and Katie Chiaramonte traveled from Baltimore to promote their book, "Embracing Queer Family: Learning to Live Authentically in our Families and Communities."

The couple brought their message because they know the political climate for queer people is difficult in the Midwest, Katie said. The women are originally from Iowa.

Katie explained that Nia came out to her as a trans woman after 14 years in a heterosexual marriage. The couple made a presentation in the church sanctuary early Saturday afternoon. Their book is described online as a ����app�guidebook����app� for queer families.

The sanctuary was also the site of what was billed as a family-friendly drag performance. The show draw laughter, applause and $1 tips for the performers

Although no official attendance count was available, the large sanctuary was mostly full and someone who attended the six-hour festival in 2023 speculated that about five times as many people were present this year.

Various booths offered visitors rainbow flags, stickers, stuffed animals and various informational brochures. Some volunteers offered to help people register to vote.

Rose Antrim, of the Women����app�s Studies program at Purdue University Fort Wayne, said the event's goal ����app�is not only making a connection with the LGBTQ community, but the Fort Wayne community as a whole and the other providers of assistance.����app�

BRAVE Alliance, a group headquartered near the church, was among the participating nonprofits. Its mission statement reads: "The BRAVE Alliance aims to imagine and create a world free of oppression, where every queer person has the social, economic and political power to thrive."

����app�We love to be able to support everyone, whatever they are going through,����app� said Christine Sanchez, of the BRAVE Alliance.

Vanessa Ramirez, who joined Sanchez, said, "It����app�s good to see so many organizations willing to come together to support each other."

Mike and Donald Tully appreciate the effort.

The local couple consider themselves lucky to be able to attend the event every year. In Mike's words, Pride at Plymouth is "cool."