OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — The Oklahoma Metropolis Pleasure Alliance parade had sunny climate this time however maybe too sunny even within the morning Saturday.
The Parade was an try to make up the parade that needed to be postponed on the finish of June due to lightning and storms. The remainder of the Pleasure Pageant downtown centered on Scissortail Park went on with sizable crowds and loads of enthusiasm.
Our protection in June:
OKC Pride Festival stays on schedule after weather knocks out parade
However, what would have been maybe hundreds on the finish of June to kick off the Pleasure Alliance Pageant concerned a couple of hundred Saturday who had been nonetheless enthusiastic.
Ryan Tomlinson with the OKC Pleasure Alliance informed Free Press that calling off the parade in the course of the competition was “devastating” however the LGBTQ+ “neighborhood was very supportive and understanding and nothing however nice.”
“Fortunately, we have now such nice neighborhood companions, and help locally that rallied round and actually helped us pull all the things collectively,” stated Tomlinson.
Help
The shade of the buildings round Fred Jones Avenue between Sheridan and Principal and a DJ created a relaxed crowd gathering earlier than the parade.
We talked with a number of who had been there ready for the parade to begin.
Companions Stacey Hendley and Cynthia Lengthy had been already arrange on Sheridan Avenue within the shade ready for the parade.
They each stated it’s all the time enjoyable to come back out and help public expressions of pleasure locally.
Have been they sufficiently old to recollect when being out was a harmful factor?
“Oh, yeah,” stated Hendley. “I bear in mind after I acquired jumped by seven guys as soon as only for being homosexual.”
“I bear in mind in junior excessive and highschool it was one thing that you simply simply didn’t speak about or acknowledge,” added Lengthy. “You simply didn’t do it.”
John and Lindsay Deinhardt introduced their three youngsters and took part.
“I’m right here simply to help inclusion and variety, clearly,” stated Lindsay. “And, , we have now household that I do know, and we have to help them and to point out them our love and help.”
John added that that they had been there to totally help that they “love everybody.”
Parade Gallery
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Final Up to date July 31, 2023, 12:38 PM by Brett Dickerson – Editor
The submit OKC Pride Alliance Parade small but enthusiastic in spite of heat, COVID appeared first on Oklahoma City Free Press.
