The Pride Fest celebration is been happening in Erie for 24 years now, and those in the LGBT community say the support from city hall is great, “We've always had the support of the city, but we've never felt as embraced by the city as we have this year,” said Alex Sphon, President of the NWPA Pride Alliance. “It creates a sense of awe for the LGBT community who is so used to being kind of pushed out, and thought of as a minority group that people don't think is in Erie, so to have this support, truly means the world to us,” Sphon continued.