Credit: via WINK News. People of all ages went to Alliance of the Arts in Fort Myers this weekend to celebrate Southwest Florida’s LGBTQ community. Pride-SWFL Inc. kicked off its 11th Annual SWFL Pride weekend-long event Saturday. The theme of this year’s event was “proud to be.” And event organizers told us 2019 was their biggest event to date, with thousands of people in attendance. The annual event was launched in 2009 as a celebration for Southwest Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and allies. A few hundred people attended the first year. Since then, attendance at SWFL Pride has grown significantly to than 6,000 in 2018. The final attendance numbers for 2019 have not been released yet. The celebrations continue Sunday with a Brunch & Tea Dance Party Sunday, October 6, from noon to 6 pm at Society Restaurant & Lounge at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 Bell Tower Dr., Fort Myers. Brunch will be from noon to 3 pm downstairs and the Tea Dance will be from 2-7 pm upstairs in the Treehouse with Grammy-nominated Billboard Reporting Producer/DJ Chris Cox.