Annual Pride Parade celebrates Philly's LGBTQ community

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- June is National Gay Pride month, and the LGBTQ community celebrated with its annual Pride Parade in Center City Sunday.

The LGBTQ Pride Parade stepped off from at 13th and Locust streets, in the heart of what's affectionately become known as Philadelphia's Gayborhood.

Winding through Center City and the Philadelphia's historic district, the parade's final stop was on Penn's Landing, where the community's annual Pride Festival was in full swing.

Supporters say the parade is as much about pride as it is about inclusion.

"We just walked in the parade for Toasted Walnut, the (city's) newest queer bar," said Devon Reiffer of Center City.

"So much energy," said Courtney Grebe of Pottstown, Pa. "So many people are so excited and accepting of everything. I love it."

"I think it's important to show our pride for everybody, and the inclusion of everybody," said Michael Blebins of Boyertown, Pa.

This is officially the 29th year for the annual event, though Philadelphia has supported LGBT rights for more than 29 years.

Back in the early 70s, during the earliest days of the Gay Rights movement, Philadelphia did host some early LGBT festivals and parades.

And that fact has not been forgotten by younger generations.

"I'm out here celebrating who I am, just out here being me," Michael Yeager of Hatboro, Pa. told Action News on Sunday.

----------

Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps