June 15 – As thousands of rainbow flags flew, Portland’s Pride parade weaved through the streets of the city’s downtown – and participants danced, paraded, waved, rode motorcycles and roller skates and even rode unicycles through the crowd.
Saturday’s parade featured full sun, temperatures in the 70s and a light breeze. Under ideal weather conditions, thousands of people lined the sidewalks so closely that some parade spectators stood on tables behind the crowd to get a better view. The parade started at Monument Square, went down Congress Street, turned onto High Street and headed to Deering Oaks for the Pride festival.
There were signs of “welcoming” and “diverse” as the parade celebrated LGBTQ+ civil rights and simply the idea of being accepted. Maine voters approved same-sex marriage in a 2012 ballot initiative, three years before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Alexis Passuro, 24, of Portland, said she attended her first Pride parade on Saturday and found it inspiring and fun.
“This is fantastic,” Passuro said. “It’s like a big party. It’s good that people can celebrate who they are.”
Portland’s Pride parade began in 1987, but missed two years due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. June is Pride month and much of the state celebrates Pride events.
Parade observer Juniper Rhodes got into the spirit by wearing a full-length rainbow flag as a cape. She said it’s a good feeling to be represented as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite Maine’s reputation for welcoming diversity, Rhodes says there are still many misunderstandings, such as the false belief that the LGBTQ+ community “indoctrinates” people.
“I’m just trying to live my life,” Rhodes said.
The marchers wore many different types of colorful costumes, from drag kings and queens to butterfly wings, anime characters and even a medieval knight.
The Maine Gay Men’s Chorus danced a choreographed routine, while members of the motorcycle group Dykes on Bikes revved their engines to start the parade. Other marching groups included Maine Roller Derby, PortConMaine, Lewiston Strong, ACLU of Maine, Planned Parenthood, Queer Trades Maine and many others.
Cinnamon Brulee and Kristopher Kleva watched the parade together and both said they enjoyed the spirit of camaraderie and acceptance that the parade represents.
“I just think this is great,” Kleva said.
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