Monday, August 27, 2012

"Madison's Gay Pride Parade......"

Don was asked to walk in Madison's Gay Pride Parade with the "Tammy Baldwin for Senate" supporters.  Here he is all set to go.......


As has become tradition in most, if not all, gay pride parades, "Dykes on Bikes" are the first group and lead the procession......


It was very nice to see so many organized religious groups represented, supporting the LGBT community.  I feel it is important to show the photos of these groups.

The Catholic Families supporters were the first, followed by those of Jewish faith.......


Then came supporters from the First United Methodist Church.........


Followed by supporters from the First Unitarian Society.....


Here is a group that I'd not even heard of.....too bad it isn't like AARP.  Once a gay person hits a certain age, we'd get something in the mail.   LOL


The "Tammy Baldwin for Senate" group that Don was asked to walk with came by.  I searched and searched and couldn't find Don anywhere.  I did see our friends Rebecca (black blouse, center) and Elspeth (behind guy in red cap), but Don was not to be found.


As it turned out, he was walking right behind the Tammy Baldwin supporters, with friends, Rory and Linda, who were playing the pipes and drums!


It was hard to get his attention with the pipes and drums playing, but he finally heard me yelling and found me in the crowd so that I could snap this photo.


Then we had more religious organizations showing their support for the gay community.  Here are the Episcopalians.......


And a group you don't hear too much about, Quakers in support of Marriage Equality.


Supporters from the 1st Baptist of Madison marched ahead of another religious group, which I unfortunately, did not get the name of........


The group who got, by far, the loudest applause, was PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).  This is because it is true, that many, many gays who "come out" to their families, are shunned and disowned, and told never to speak or have contact with them again.  Parents and friends of gays who love and support unconditionally are VERY respected by the gay community!


I was pleased to see Madison's Mayor, Paul Soglin, come to the festivities, too.


We were fortunate to have such beautiful weather.  It was a very nice time.

3 comments:

Bernard said...

That's fantastic, Mike. Glad to see Madison has it's own pride parade. Thanks for the pics. Did the mayor march in the parade?

Barb said...

With your new found appreciation for religious groups, does this mean you'll attend my memorial service (in a church) if I die first??

Barb said...

With your new found appreciation for religious groups, does this mean you'll attend my memorial service (in a church) if I die first??