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Largest Crowd Ever Turns Out for Anchorage PrideFestLGBT community and allies celebrate on park stripRelated Content
At left, Assembly members Harriet Drummond and Elvi Gray-Jackson with an organizer at the 2012 PrideFest ANCHORAGE - More than a thousand people thronged the Delaney Park Strip or marched in the PrideFest parade on Saturday, which featured decorated floats, rainbow and otherwise colorfully-clad marchers, and Anchorage Assembly members Elvi Gray-Jackson and Harriet Drummond, who were carrying a banner reading “Anchorage Won’t Discriminate.” The politicians’ banner was a leftover from the failed Proposition 5 anti-discrimination initiative, which would have added gays, lesbians and transgendered people to the Anchorage municipal code’s protected classes. Despite the failure of the equal rights proposition, the mood at the 2012 PrideFest was ebullient. The celebratory atmosphere was in contrast to last year’s Pride Parade, when, shortly after the start of the parade, the car carrying Grand Marshall Doug Franks went out of control and ran over and killed marcher James Crump. There was a moment of silence for Crump at Saturday’s celebration, but notwithstanding that incident and the failure of the anti-discrimination initiative, the crowd reveled in the midday sunshine as emcee Daphne DoAll LaChores introduced the parade marchers and various groups’ two dozen-plus floats. This year their theme was “Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Pride,” and if anyone found themselves attempting to drive near the park strip between 11 a.m. and noon, the LGBT community was certainly seen. This year’s grand marshal was Trevor Storrs, former director of the Four A’s AIDS assistance foundation. Sponsors included the Millennium Hotel, the Copper Whale Inn, KFAT radio, the Four A’s, D-Zine Alaska, Great Land Infusion Pharmacy, Credit Union One, Castle Megastore and the Anchorage Central Labor Council, as well as several LGBT groups. |
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Huh said on Sunday, Jun 10 at 3:57 PM
What discrimination ?
93382774Heya said on Sunday, Jun 10 at 10:18 PM
If soemone deosn't tell you they are gay how does anyone know or even care? Are they special? I need to go around telling people I'm straight and have a parade too? Big deal. Too much attention to nothing.
93397516Hey Mikey said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:03 AM
@Heya - You can walk hand in hand with your girlfriend and nobody will give shoot. Not s for gay and lesbians. That is just a SMALL example of what we are up against. Two guys kiss in public like you might kiss your girlfriend? See how that goes over! But hey, you need someone to bash, don't you?
93427766Hey mickey2 said on Monday, Jun 11 at 11:28 AM
Paranoid? No one cares
93440214AKJ said on Monday, Jun 11 at 6:08 PM
Dare you to say no one cares on Sunday morning at ABT.
93466576Chillywilly said on Monday, Jun 11 at 7:17 PM
14 people showed up and 12 were reporters .....Nice crowd for a non event
93470374So said on Monday, Jun 11 at 7:25 PM
A GLT says ick when a straight person kisses in public (like there is tons of public kissing going on other than at the airport) Where is the protection for the straight community from all these GLT types?
93470746Ahem! said on Monday, Jun 11 at 7:25 PM
I think there is a great number of people that care about gays at ABT. They believe in a literal hell and when you believe something like that you try and warn against it, and that is not the only subject that is preached against there, including murder, covetousness, idolatry, drunkenness. Do they have people in the congregation that do that sort of stuff? YES! that is why Prevo preaches not to do it, because the Bible says not to. You people think that is all they talk about maybe you should visit once in a while and see.
93470786umm said on Monday, Jun 11 at 7:26 PM
AKJ, are there alot of gays making out at ABT? No, well then there you go.
93470795WOW said on Monday, Jun 11 at 7:31 PM
Nor are drunkards sitting in pews with a six pack of beer or people banging each other in the back row. Not the place for that...Idiot!
93471025Elmer Fudd said on Monday, Jun 11 at 10:28 PM
I voted "no" on 5. So I sat this one out.
93476956voter said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 12:03 AM
At left, Assembly members Harriet Drummond and Elvi Gray-Jackson with an organizer at the 2012 PrideFest
93479045non gay said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 6:33 AM
you lost, get over it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
93498766What fest? said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 12:34 PM
who cares?
93530835MOA voter said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 1:07 PM
At left, Assembly members Harriet Drummond and Elvi Gray-Jackson with an organizer at the 2012 PrideFest
93533475Human said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 3:37 PM
It really doesn't matter if your gay or straight. People will always hate other people. Whether your White, Black, Asian, Jewish, Redneck, or whatever. Nothing changes because the reality is people hate themselves first before they hate other people. So why the crappy comments.. Oh yeah.. Your lives must suck. Live and let live. Get over what other people do with there free time. If your not apart of it find a hobby.
93544016How come said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:41 PM
How come gays are not gay? Seeing as they took over that word. Do your thing and leave the rest of the community out of your sex life.
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