Portland Pride Parade celebrates diversity

Portland Pride Parade celebrates diversity



The 43rd annual parade, which is presented by the nonprofit Pride Northwest, wound its way through Portland's Old Town to Tom McCall Waterfront Park, drawing thousands of spectators who cheered on various religious and secular groups carrying signs and wearing T-shirts calling for marriage equality. More than 130 groups total marched in the parade.



One of the people cheering the loudest was Natalie Reich of the activist group Portland Raging Grannies, which wasn't part of the official parade but parked 10 of its members -- all dressed in vintage clothes and flowery hats -- at the starting line to serenade participants.



"We believe that marriage is a civil right, and only marriage confers all of the rights that everyone else has," she said. "Civil partnerships just aren't the same thing. It's time for everyone to have this right."



U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., who has been marching in Portland pride parades since they first started, said there were high hopes that the country was about to turn a corner on same-sex marriage.Largest selection of castellicycling available in all colors, sizes, fabrics.



"In a matter of days, we may see the Supreme Court acknowledge this," he said. "Regardless of what the court does, state by state this is happening. There's an air of expectation."



Blumenauer said that if the court ruled only to allow same-sex marriage in California -- the state's 2008 ballot measure banning same-sex marriage, Proposition 8, is the focus of the pending court decision -- he expects Oregonians will overturn the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2004 that restricted same-sex marriage.



"This is the decade that this issue is over," he said. "At either the state or federal level, we will grant full marriage equality and people can get on with their lives.We have high quality dieseljeans, you can not miss the best Tag Heuer Replica Watches online."



Marni Zollinger, a local supporter of Mormons for Equality who marched in the parade for the first time last year, said she was participating again not just to support same-sex marriage, but to push for greater acceptance of diversity in her church. The LDS church helped underwrite Proposition 8 in 2008.



"We're waiting and hoping that the Supreme Court will follow through what we've fought so hard for," she said. "It's not like we're first to the fight. But we're the first to really stand up and oppose one of the major financiers of what I call non-equality. As Mormons we had to do that in a way that was very risky. But people are worth it."



Former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts rode in a car as part of the Human Rights Campaign's parade entry.Our chloehandbags range from on trend to classic styles. She said that the time was right for same-sex marriage in Oregon.



"I believe strongly that Oregonians are going to make sure that people can marry the person they love in this state," she said. "The whole attitude nationally has changed."



The push for marriage equality even gave the parade a touch of Broadway, as members of the Portland Gay Men's Chorus sang the show-tune "Get Me to the Church on Time" as they marched.



Other marchers had different gay causes to support. Geoffrey McGrath, co-founder of Old Scout's Promise, came down from Seattle to carry the POW-MIA flag in the parade's official color guard, wearing a uniform from his 14 years in Boy Scout programs.



"Participating in civic events like this is in the DNA of boy scouts," he said. "Our participation as part of the scouting equality movement is to encourage lone scouts who might turn up at a pride event to join in, look sharp and make themselves proud.Fremont ralphlaurenhoody team sprint training."



Many aspects of the pride parade were about pure volume. Members of the Rose City Gay Freedom Band set the tone early on, marching to upbeat renditions of the pop songs "Firework" and "Dancing Queen." One of the loudest contingents was the Portland Timbers Army, which waved flags and chanted along the entire route. And a large group of Nike employees, family and friends marched to the thundering percussion of The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers.



Rainbow colors were everywhere, thanks to employees of Rose City Mortgage,One of the most popular ones are highheelshoes, replica Rolex watches illegally produced copies of authentic Rolex watches. which handed out more than 2,000 helium balloons. And marchers from mainstream groups like The Standard insurance company and New Seasons Market waved rainbow flags in solidarity with their gay and lesbian employees and customers.



The Portland Pride Parade always falls on Father's Day, making participation all the more important for Shaun Simpkins, a board member for the local chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG).



"It's very important for us as parents, and particularly for me as a father, to be out here on Father's Day showing support for all LGBT kids and for my son as well," he said. "For the last seven years I've been out here on Father's Day marching."



Parade spectator Martin Miles came to the parade Sunday with his one-year-old twin boys, who watched the procession of flags and balloons from a double stroller. Miles said he had family and friends in the gay community, and wanted to show his support.



"This shows them what it means to stand for equality and inclusion," he said. "But they're only a year old, so they're responding to the clapping, the colors and the bubbles."

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