The sun showed through the regularly cloudy skies in downtown Toledo Saturday to glisten off of every color of the rainbow for the first public Pride parade since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Starting at the intersection of Adams and 17th Street, participants in this year’s Pride Parade danced, cheered, and celebrated their way to Promenade Park, where 90 community vendors and 17 sponsors of Pride were set up along with two stages for festivities.
According to Brent Rabie, 35, the Pride Parade Coordinator, about 100 different groups registered for the parade this year, and thousands were expected in attendance despite the threat of rain.
“It's more important than ever to be here representing our community, especially, you know, in Toledo,” said Michelle Wernert, 47, of Maumee, who was one of a trio of rainbow-studded motorcyclists heading up the procession.
For many, it’s more important than ever to be present in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Without guaranteed protections from Roe vs. Wade, many are afraid the rights of the LGBTQ community may come under fire as well.
“I would just say that Pride’s a celebration, but we also have work to do,” said Mr. Rabie alluding to the volatile political climate that could affect much of what Pride represents and celebrates.
Yet the act of showing up in many ways is very much a part of the local activism at work.
“It means a lot,” said Hamburger Mary’s drag queen headliner, Justyce Sinclaire, highlighting the time the LGBTQ community has spent away from the spotlight.
“We haven't gotten together in three years, so I think that this is really emotional this year,” Ms. Sinclaire said.
Local celebrities aside, the parade provided a safe place to celebrate everyone’s individual identities.
“Oh, pride means the ability to be exactly who you are without judgment, persecution, or oppression,” said parade participant Rachel Gardull, 29, of the Glass City Rollers.
“This parade helps just by giving people a safe space to be themselves,” said Ms. Gardull. “Oftentimes, there are a lot of people who don't get to do that in their everyday life, and so the escape, to show up and just be a number in the crowd, but also who you are, can be a perfect place to be.”
Near the beginning of the parade procession was one such person who could testify to the difficulty she had with others misunderstanding her identity and finding safety in the overarching celebration of Pride.
“This is my first year here,” said Zayden Bailey, 16, of East Toledo, “I really wanted to come because like, I finally am able to be around people that are supportive.”
Zayden said this just as her girlfriend rest her head on Zayden’s shoulder, and she was surrounded by a second family that accepted her just as she is.
First Published August 20, 2022, 11:19 p.m.
