Mike Malone and Ashlie Tibbetts. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Walking Tree Brewery was overrun with adults taking advantage of the excuse to dress up as their favorite characters at a Dungeons, Dragons & Drag Queens event hosted by Vero Pride to promote inclusion and belonging.

The nonprofit strives to bring visibility to the local LGBTQ+ community on the premise that “how you identify and whom you desire is an integral and inherent part of who you are that should be celebrated.”

The room was staged by Riverside Theatre staff as a full-scale production of “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Game of Thrones.” Bracketing the stage were giant replicas of the rainbow-colored, geo-shaped D&D’s Dice of True Color. In June 2023, in honor of Pride Month, the game company rereleased the dice as a reminder to “celebrate every aspect of yourself that makes you who you are.”

“A city is made up of various and sundry communities. This is a community here,” said Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno.

“The diversity represented by everyone who is here to come and celebrate the event is something that makes a city a city, and what makes a city become better as it goes forward.

It’s a beautiful event and something that, no pun intended, we should all have pride in. We welcome everyone, and we welcome everyone for this event,” Cotugno added.

Costumes ran the gamut, from the popular D&D role-playing game to comic book personalities, villains, and the creatures that make us jump when we hear things that go bump in the night.

Ironically, it was the Supermarket Sweep couple that took home the big win: $500 in cash, and free beer for one year. Modeled after an American television game show that originally aired in 1965, the couple were ready for the competition with a shopping cart loaded with foodstuffs.

This year’s winner of the Pride Scholarship Competition was Rachel Estillore, a Vero Beach High School student, whose diversity essay, “We Answer to Different Names,” was an artfully written recollection of the guilt and shame she felt while denying her Filipino heritage to fit in as she grew up. She drew strength from the experience, and now uses her voice to speak up for herself and others.

“Diversity is being proud of who we are and where we came from. Diversity is the name we share and the truth we fight for,” she said at the close of her essay.

Scott Cox, PNC senior vice president, presented her with a $1,000 Pride Scholarship underwritten by PNC Private Bank.

“PNC is committed to the communities that we live and work in. We’re committed to inclusion, and diversity, and creating a culture of that. We feel like we’ve done that not just with our employees but with our customers, and we’re delighted to be a part of the Vero Pride event tonight,” said Cox.

Vero Pride co-founder Stephanie LeBlanc said the event is meant to bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community.

“It doesn’t mean that we want special treatment. We just want to be part of the community. We’re trying to remove the stigma and implement more awareness. We’re here. We’ve always been here, and we’ll continue to be here,” she explained.

“I can’t think of someone who doesn’t either have a relative or a friend or someone they know who isn’t one of the LGBTQ+. You’ve got someone in the family. If you think you don’t, it’s because they’re terrified to come out.”

LeBlanc said teenagers are already vulnerable, and those struggling with their identity and acceptance by family and friends are even more so. Rather than making them feel like less of a human, people should put forth more love.

“It really goes a long way. Remember, love wins,” said LeBlanc.

For more information, visit veropride.com.

Photos by Joshua Kodis