Hundreds of people lined Main street in Durham this afternoon to support the 25th Annual North Carolina Pride parade and festival.

Gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people and other attendees came from all over the state to celebrate the event.

The pride parade was started after the beating death of a man who was thought to be gay.

"It was that spontaneous event about violence," NC Pride Spokesman Keith Hayes said.

From that spontaneous march more than two decades ago came Saturday's 25th Annual festival.

"Clearly we've made a lot of progress as a state and as a country on gay civil rights in the last two or three decades," Hayes said. "We have a lot of work still to do."

Of course, with an event advertising gay pride, there were a few protestors.

About six men stood on a corner with signs, shouting phrases like, "God did not make you gay."

However, by the time the parade started, the protestors were all but drowned out.

Several churches marched in support of the gay community and other had booths at the festival, like the Hillsborough United Church of Christ that welcomed openly gay member Kyle Jordan.

"Our congregation took a vote several years ago that says we are supportive of (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) members in our congregation," Jordan said.

Overall, the event was about being proud of who you are, whether in high heels and a bra or a simple hair piece to help you stand out.

"Since a lot of us are ostracized from our real family, this is a safe space for us to come and unite," Gabriel Lopez said.

It's a space that's been there for 25 years.