Thousands marched at the Pride Pride Parade in Portland on Sunday to celebrate the progress made by the LGBTQ + community, but also to highlight the remaining challenges.
“While people may think we’re in the 21st century and moving forward, it’s even more important today to go out and show our pride,” said Babylon Brooks, Levy Carpenter’s main character.
Babylon Brooks, who paraded with the Sweethearts of Portland charity, cites concerns about gay and trance bills being introduced in the Midwest and South, and the alleged thwarted attempt by white nationalists to disrupt the Pride event in northern Idaho. early this month.
“Whatever you try to legislate against us, no matter how hard you try to ban our existence, we are still here,” Babylon Brooks said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
With the roar of Dykes on Bikes motorcycles in front, the parade began at 11 a.m.
Rainbow-clad protesters, including drag queens, motorcycles, military veterans, religious groups, groups and choirs, firefighters, health care providers, horse trainers and corporate employees, strayed from the city’s Old Town district, starting outside the Never Pride Northwest. Look away ”mural on Northwest Couch Street, next to Tom McCall Waterfront Park for more than two hours.
Debra Porta, executive director of the non-profit Pride Northwest, said the parade route has been shifted to highlight the mural, which features eight faces of national and local people who actively support the LGBTQ + community, a national transgender advocate and actress Angelica Ross to Retired Oregon Supreme Court Judge Lynn Nakamoto.
Porta was glad the parade returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
“Isolation is real for our community, so there is nothing that surpasses the energy, the atmosphere of being personal,” Porta said. “Our strength in numbers reminds us that we are not alone.”
Bolivia Carmichaels, the drag character of Daniel P. Elliott, who has entertained audiences in the Portland area since 1994, was the Grand Marshal of the parade.
After hosting a Saturday night party at CC Slaughters nightclub and salon, the Bolivia Carmichaels wore a pink sequined dress and applauded the rest of the parade. At the height of the pandemic, Carmichaels hosted free weekly virtual shows, traveling shows, and even a Drag-Thru insertion line.
“Words cannot begin to express the love I feel for our city and our community,” Carmichaels said. “The purpose of my life was to make sure everyone was included, recognized, supported and loved for their authentic selves. This parade today and the celebrations throughout the city are our way of celebrating our individuality as well as our strength as a community. ”
Crowds of people at at least three depths lined the route, some appearing more than two hours earlier to catch first-class viewing spots.
Rex Doe, 62, of Portland, was sitting in a chair on Northwest Couch Street, next to Second Avenue, reading a book at 9 a.m., waiting for the parade, which would begin two hours later. He said he had come to greet his grandchildren, who were marching with a parent, an employee of Macy’s. “The gay community needs all the support we can give them,” Doe said.
Lani Kali was sitting in a lawn chair along Couch Street with her wife, Maria Kali, while their 13-year-old daughter, Danya, was sitting on the curb in front of them.
“This is our national holiday,” said Lani Kali. “We are lesbian mothers and have a bisexual daughter and a gay son.
She said she was concerned about the arrests of members of white nationalists who were accused of trying to riot at the Pride Parade in Cor d’Alen, Idaho earlier this month. “It’s still more important to be here,” said Lani Kali. “It’s important for young people to see people like us.”
“I grew up in Pride,” added Danya.
Demonstrators and parade participants wore rainbow-colored bundles, feathered boas, socks, masks, hats and shoes.
The hairless dog of Carl and Alison Richter wore a rainbow-colored mini cowboy hat, a rainbow-colored coat, and a long rainbow-colored tie as she stood on a folding Tommy Bahamas beach chair, waiting for the parade to begin.
Kat Jambore, co-owner of the strange-horse rescue program Once Upon a Rescue in Damascus, Oregon, painted a horse named Arrow in red, white and blue before leading him through the parade.
With so many traumas experienced by people in the queer community, Once Upon a Rescue is working to connect people with horses in a therapeutic way to help build self-esteem, Jambore said.
Some demonstrators carried signs reading “Trans people belong to sports”, “The proud mother on a bicycle” and “Love is love”. One group distributes condoms to adults in party bags.
Tyrie Elliott usually watches the parade, but this year he paraded with fellow employees at a marijuana store in Beaverton called Green Mart. “As a black, LGBTQ person, this place feels at home, it feels like family,” he told his employer, where he has worked for about eight months.
Rev. Nathan McLey of the Metropolitan Community Church said queer church members were marching in the 1976 Pride Parade. We are here to tell them that they are God’s beloved children. ”
Celebrities such as US Representative Earl Blumenauer, US Senator Ron Wyden, former Portland Mayor Sam Adams and city commissioners Joe Ann Hardesty and Dan Ryan were among those who joined in the festivities.
There were no noticeable absences of uniformed police officers or police officers, as Pride Northwest adopted a policy that the group did not want to march in uniform or armed police.
“Because there are a lot of symbols in this uniform that are incredibly powerful and traumatic for many people in the community,” Porta explained. “It doesn’t take all the work that LGBTQ employees have done to get to where they are. But there is a bigger conversation that needs to be held because of the history and the impact on our community. “
The group’s written policy states: “The ever-increasing use of violence against our citizens, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ + community, is both frightening and unacceptable. Although Pride Northwest remains committed to ending the violence, we are forced to take further action now. “
Apart from a Portland police car near the front of the parade, no police group appeared in Portland.
Sergeant Kevin Allen, a spokesman for the Portland Police, said before the event: “Our participation will only be support.”
Robert Ball, a local real estate developer and former Portland Police Reserve Commander who is gay and has marched in uniform at Portland Pride parades in recent years with a group of police officers, called the policy change unfortunate.
“Trust comes when you get involved and partner with the police,” he said. “LGBTQ + police officers were trying to get out of the closet at work and march in a parade. Pride Northwest is trying to get LGBTQ + employees back in the closet with this action. “
In 1991, then-Portland Police Chief Tom Potter marched in a parade to show solidarity with his daughter, Katie, a recent Portland police officer. Potter also wanted to show that the gay community can count on fair treatment by the police after a long history of assault.
Portland firefighters showed up.
As firefighter Christine Petzullo helped decorate a Portland fire truck with a rainbow-colored ribbon, she said it was important to take part in the parade.
“This shows our community that we are inclusive, that diversity is important,” Petzulo said. “As a fire station, it is vital that we are represented.”
Pride Northwest had dozens of volunteers wearing fluorescent vests to help monitor the route of the parade. Transit security is also organized on bus routes.
Tobin Hendron waved bubbles at the corner of Northwest Second Avenue and the couch as he reserved space for others from his LGBTQ + Christian group to join him. Hendron, who lives in Newberg with her husband, said she was relieved to come out of the pandemic for a personal parade and pride festival.
“We need to celebrate who we are and share a sense of solidarity with each other,” he said.
“Maxine Bernstein.”
Send an email to mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
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