This past weekend on September 17th in the heart of downtown Lafayette, IN, the city held their OUTFest celebration. OUTFest is a festival held every summer in downtown Lafayette that supports the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community in order to increases awareness of the community and resources. It celebrates the diversity in Tippecanoe County. This year, OUTFest was held during September instead of early August. to increase the attendance from Purdue students.

"OUTfest is one of the only events in Lafayette for the gay community," said Alice Sin, Miss Grand Diva 2016. "I have been blessed to be asked to entertain by Jesse Knoth for the past two years. Jesse works tirelessly to make sure that this event is a success each year."

This year, many vendors lined the streets in downtown Lafayette to provide some free swag like sunglasses and buttons and to provide resources that showed their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Performances were held throughout the evening on two different stages, one with a rainbow, brick heart background that said "Love Wins" and another with a rainbow swirl background.

The community came together to celebrate the diversity that Tippecanoe County and the City of Lafayette has to offer, and the uniting of community members was something wonderful to see.

"I think the best part of OUTFest was being able to see all the different generations of life coming together for a great cause and rallying together for support of the LGBTQ+ community," said Connor Brown, a Purdue student.

OUTFest is an annual event that's put on by Pride Lafayette, the LGBTQ+ pride office that's located on Main Street in downtown Lafayette, which provides resources and a safe space for LGBTQ+ people and allies.

"OUTFest was amazing. It felt so right," said Purdue student Joey Eldridge. "I loved it for the experience, the diversity, and all the love. I cannot wait until next year!"

"Everyone should go to OUTfest because it's a great way to get out and support your friends and family who may belong to a part of the LGBTQ community," continued Alice Sin.

OUTFest will take place again next year, and during the academic year so more students can attend. Pride Lafayette is open all year round, and is always looking for volunteers for the many events they have beyond OUTFest. If you missed OUTFest this year, then there's plenty more opportunities to be involved with the LGBTQ+ pride in Lafayette.

Alice Sin said, "Pride to me is about love and being strong while standing together. Events like OUTfest bring people in from every race, gender, walk of life, etc. It's a great resource and a great way to make friends regardless of if you're gay or straight. Every person I get to meet, befriend, and add on Facebook, affects my art and how I view the community that I love."