“While people may think we are in the 21st century and have moved on, it is even more important nowadays to go out and show our pride,” said Babylon Brooks, Levi Carpenter’s drag persona. Babylon Brooks, who led the parade with the charity Sweethearts of Portland, expressed concern about gay and transgender bills in the Midwest and South, and the alleged failed attempt by white nationalists to disrupt a in northern Idaho earlier this month. “No matter how you try to legislate against us, no matter how you try to outlaw our existence, we are still here,” said Babylon Brooks. “We are not going anywhere.” With the roar of Dykes on Bikes motorcycles in front, the parade started at 11 a.m. Rainbow-clad protesters, such as drag queens, cyclists, military veterans, religious groups, bands and choirs, firefighters, health care providers, horse trainers and corporate staff, started in the Old Town neighborhood of the city, starting outside the Pride North. Never Look Away “mural along Northwest Couch Street at Tom McCall Waterfront Park for more than two hours. Debra Porta, executive director of the nonprofit Pride Northwest, said the parade’s course was changed to highlight the mural, which features eight ethnic and local people who have actively supported the LGBTQ + community, from the national trans rights activist. and actress Angelica Ross until retiring Oregon. Supreme Court Justice Lynn Nakamoto. Porta was happy to make the parade back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. “Isolation is real for our community, so there is nothing beyond the energy, the atmosphere, of being personal,” Porta said. “Our power in numbers reminds us that we are not alone.” Bolivia Carmichaels, the drag character of Daniel P. Elliott who has entertained audiences throughout the Portland area since 1994, was the Grand Marshal of the Parade. After hosting a party Saturday night at the CC Slaughters Nightclub and Lounge, Bolivia Carmichaels wore a pink sequined dress and cheered on the other participants in the parade on Sunday. At the height of the pandemic, Carmichaels hosted free weekly virtual shows, travel shows and even a Drag-Thru line. “Words can not begin to express the love I have for our city and our community,” said Carmichaels. “It has been the goal of my life to make sure everyone is included, recognized, supported and loved for their authentic self. “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 lined the route at least three feet deep, with some arriving more than two hours earlier to find top sights. Rex Daw, 62, of Portland, sat in a chair along Northwest Couch Street next to Second Avenue reading a book at 9 a.m., waiting for the parade to begin two hours later. He said he came to applaud his grandchildren, who were walking with a parent, a Macy’s employee. “The gay community needs all the support we can give them,” Daw said. Lannie Kali sat in a lawn chair along Couch Street next to wife Maria Kali as their 13-year-old daughter, Dania, sat on the sidewalk in front of them. “This is our national holiday,” said Lannie Kali. “We are lesbian moms and we have a bisexual daughter and a gay son.” He said he was concerned about the arrests of white nationalist members accused of trying to stir up a Pride parade in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho earlier this month. “It’s even more important to be here,” said Lannie Kali. “It’s important for young people to see people like us.” “I grew up going to Pride,” Dania added. The demonstrators and the attendees wore them in the color of the rainbow, winged boa, socks, masks, hats and shoes. The hairless Chinese crested dog of Carl and Alison Richter wore a rainbow-colored mini cowboy hat, a rainbow-colored coat, and a long rainbow-colored tie as he stood in a folding “Tommy” box. waiting for the parade to start. Kat Jambor, co-owner of the queer-run Once Upon a Rescue horse rescue program in Damascus, Oregon, painted a horse named Arrow red, white and blue before taking it to the parade. With so much trauma being experienced in the queer community, Once Upon a Rescue is working to connect people with horses in a therapeutic way to help build confidence, Jambor said. Some protesters carried placards reading “Trans people belong to sports”, “Proud mother of a Dike on a bicycle” and “Love is love”. A group distributed condoms to adults in party bags. Tyree Elliott usually watches the parade, but this year he paraded it with colleagues from the Beaverton marijuana store called Green Mart. “As a black, LGBTQ guy, this place feels like home, like a family,” he said of his employer, where he has been working for about eight months. The Most Reverend Nathan Meckley, of the Church Metropolitan Community, said that members of the queer church have been parading in the Pride Parade since 1976. exactly we are. We are here to tell them that they are beloved children of God. “ Celebrities such as U.S. MP Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, former Portland Mayor Sam Adams and city commissioners Jo Ann Hardesty and Dan Ryan were among those who attended the party. Police officers or police officers were apparently absent, as Pride Northwest adopted a policy that said the group did not want a uniformed or armed police force. “Because there is a lot of symbolism in this outfit that is incredibly explosive and traumatic for a lot of people in the community,” Porta explained. “It does not take away all the work that LGBTQ officers have done to get where they are. “But there is a broader debate that needs to be made about history and the impact on our community.” The group’s written policy states: “The growing use of force against our citizens, many of whom belong to the LGBTQ + community, is frightening and unacceptable. “While Pride Northwest remains committed to a commitment to ending violence, we owe it to ourselves to take further action now.” Except for a Portland police patrol near the front of the parade, no group of Portland police demonstrators showed up. Sgt. “Our involvement will only be support,” said Kevin Allen, a Portland police spokesman. Robert Ball, a local real estate developer and former Portland Police chief who is gay and paraded in uniform at the Portland Pride parades in recent years with a group of police officers, called the policy change unfortunate. “Trust comes when you work and you work with the police,” he said. “LGBTQ + police officers fought to get out of the closet at work and parade in the parade. “Pride Northwest is trying to bring LGBTQ + officers back into the closet with this action.” In 1991, then-Portland Police Chief Tom Potter led the parade in solidarity with his daughter, Katie, a recent Portland police officer. Potter also wanted to show the gay community that they could count on fair treatment from the police, after a long history of targeting. Portland firefighters showed up. As firefighter Christine Pezzulo helped decorate a Portland fire truck with a rainbow-colored ribbon, she said it was important to take part in the parade. “It shows our community that we are inclusive, that diversity is important,” Pezzulo said. “It is vital that we represent ourselves as a fire department.” Pride Northwest had dozens of volunteers wearing phosphorescent vests to help monitor the parade. Transportation safety was also organized on the bus routes. Tobin Gentron was bubbling on the corner of Northwest Second Avenue and the couch as he held a seat for others in his LGBTQ + Christian group to join him. Gendron, who lives in Newberg with her husband, said he was relieved to have “come out” of the pandemic for a personal Pride parade and festival. “We must celebrate who we are and share a sense of solidarity with each other,” he said. – Maxine Bernstein Email at [email protected]; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
