PHOTOS: Metro East Pride, Before Orlando

Metro East Pride in Belleville, Ill., just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, celebrated Pride June 11. This supportive and connected community had no idea what was to happen in the next few hours. But on June 11, the spirit and the joy of LGBT Pride was evident on all the faces of the celebrants. Like many of the Pride celebrations last weekend, it also ended the weekend with a memorial vigil for the victims in Orlando and you can see those images here. We felt it is important to still show these great Pride photos because the spirit of Pride is more important than ever. Thanks to the folks at Vital Voice magazine for these images as well as the images of the memorial.