By Tim Mastro

DOVER — This year marks the 10th wedding anniversary for Jeffrey Moore and Brent Blankenship.

Which makes Pride Month a little extra special this year. The Dover couple was on the Legislative Mall Saturday attending the annual Pride Festival, celebrating Delaware Pride’s 25th year.

“Pride for us means that we get to celebrate our love,” Mr. Moore said. “It’s a way for us to celebrate our love, be who we are and just tell the community that we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to be here. It’s about respect, it’s about love and it’s about loving people for who they are.”

The all-day event began with a parade in the morning before a festival featuring live music, a kids’ zone, a beer garden, food trucks and more than 150 vendors on Dover’s Legislative Mall.

Mr. Blankenship said this was one of the best Pride Festivals yet, crediting the organizers for spacing out events and bringing in some big name performers. He said he was especially excited to see Pandora Boxx from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“To have a performer like that come here to Delaware is incredible,” Mr. Blankenship said. “I think that’s helped to bring more people here.”

Entertainment at the main stage was hosted by Austin Armacost — a cast member from the Logo reality television series “The A-List: New York,” which followed the lives of six gay and bisexual men in New York City. It also featured performances by Pepper MaShay, Jamie LeRose, Chris Jehnert, Aunt Mary Pat DiSabatino, the Manhattan Prairie Dogs, the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware and others.

Local drag queen Magnolia Applebottom was the emcee for the drag stage which hosted performances highlighted by 2014 Delaware Pride Newcomer Cherry St. Cartier, 2012 Delaware Pride Queen Ashley Lynn, 2021 Miss Western States America Tatiyanna Voche’ and 2017 Miss Philly LGBT Pride Tina Montgomery.

Lt. Gov Bethany Hall-Long was also on hand, giving a speech to those in attendance regarding social and emotional support from the Lt. Gov. Office of the Behavioral Health Consortium.

“I and my team from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, we were just thrilled to join because it’s really important that we address all persons’ inclusivity and address their rights,” Lt. Gov. Hall-Long said. “Those who sometimes feel disenfranchised, it’s important they have a sense of inclusivity and for families to come together and celebrate one another’s uniqueness. We want to make sure that everyone knows in Delaware, we certainly have respect for our LGBT community.”