After the food and music of the Creole Tomato Fest and the fun spectacle of the Naked Bike Parade, we were ready for the festive and fabulous Pride Parade. Every year, the parade grows adding more dancers, floats and sponsors like Walgreen’s, Cox, Lyft, and Absolut. Bounce legend Big Freedia joined the LGBTQ groups, community organizations, churches and more rolling through the French Quarter. Dance and walking krewes included Sirens, Krewe des Fleur, Dames de Perlage, Disco Amigos, Krewe of Goddesses and my pink sisters, The Pussyfooters. One Shot Brass Band served up the funk.
Like the Naked Bike Ride that rolled a couple hours before Pride, the parade is a celebration that aims to increase visibility and awareness. It’s also a rainbow-festooned good time. I loved seeing proud families pushing strollers and the truck full of first responders from the police, fire and emergency services rolling along with the drag queens and Lords of Leather.
Though it’s uncomfortable to mention, special thanks to the bicycle-riding police officer who stopped a man carrying an AR-15 and handgun just blocks from our spot on the route. I’m proud of my LGBTQ family and friends and pray for their safety, inclusion and equality. Love is love.
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- Big Freedia
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- Big Freedia
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- Big Freedia
L.A. to N.O.LA 
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