The Latest: Thousands turn out for weekend gay pride events

DENVER – The Latest on gay pride events across the country (all times local):

11 a.m.

People in wheelchairs, walking on stilts and riding rainbow-decorated motorcycles turned out for gay pride events over the weekend, including people on parade in Denver on Sunday carrying posters of people the names or faces of victims who died in last weekend’s attack on a gay nightclub in Florida.

In Denver, about 2,000 people took part in the PrideFest parade through town to Civic Center Park as hundreds of people lined sidewalks.

Security was tight at events over the weekend. Authorities set up security fences, bag checks, and police rode Segway scooters and walked with bomb-sniffing dogs.

No serious problems were reported Saturday at events across the country.

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11 p.m.

Festivals and parades went ahead Saturday under increased security in cities such as Chicago, Columbus, Ohio; and Providence, Rhode Island, a week after a gunman fired on a crowd at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The attack left 49 people dead.

At Chicago Pride Fest, security staff meticulously checked bags, unzipping each and every pocket, and extra police patrolled on foot in a highly visible presence.

The annual two-day street festival in the Boystown neighbourhood draws thousands of revelers and serves as a warmup to Chicago’s even bigger Pride Parade the following weekend.