Thousands celebrate acceptance, equality at Erie's annual Pride Parade and Festival

Nearly 2,000 people marched down State Street on Saturday in the Erie Pride Parade and Festival, arriving at Perry Square where thousands more people gathered.

Alex Sphon, president of the NWPA Pride Alliance, which organizes Pride, said he expects this year's event to be the biggest yet after two years of pandemic restrictions.

He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday that overturned Roe v. Wade also contributed to attendance.

Related:Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, eliminating constitutional right to abortion

"In light of the Supreme Court ruling, the LGBTQ community is worried that our rights are going to be walked backwards," he said. "So with these events, it's really important for us to come together and show unity in numbers and also be visible to stand against our rights being written away."

Andi Graham, 26, was one of a dozen or so Wegman's employees who paraded. Graham said participating in Erie's parade has introduced her to more individuals in the LGBTQ+ community than she realized lived in Erie.

"I feel like a lot of times people think of Erie as very close-minded, very small and not diverse, so when we all gather for the Pride Parade, it's like, 'Oh there's actually a lot of LGBT people in Erie, there's a lot of diversity that you don't usually get to see,'" Graham said.

A float filled with drag queens in sparkly dresses led parade-goers of all ages down State Street. Honking cars were met with hoops and hollers from parade participants who shouted back, "You are loved" and "You are valid."

About 30 people marched together holding up a 25-foot-by-50-foot rainbow flag. Among them were David Duguay, 45, and his 15-year-old dog Cisco, a Shih Tzu-Cairn terrier mix with a blue fauxhawk.

Duguay, 45, traveled from Cranesville Borough to march in a Pride Parade for a second time.

"It's super nice ... and my dog loves it," Duguay said. "It's way better than being cooped up inside."

Following the parade, several speakers addressed the growing crowd, including Kate Neubert-Lechner, executive director of the Erie Playhouse, who criticized the Supreme Court opinion that ended the constitutional right to abortion that had been in place since 1973. There is no immediate effect in Pennsylvania, but that could change depending on the outcomes of key elections in November.

Loved it/Hated it: Roe v Wade ruling brings mixed reactions across Pennsylvania

"I chose to be a parent, I knew that I was ready," she said. "I had a body that could safely take care of my health and the health of the fetus that was growing. I was very lucky, but for every one of me, there is another person with a uterus who knows they will not be able to carry a pregnancy to term without severe risk to their life or their child's life.

"There are many, many more who simply cannot bring a fetus to term for myriad of reasons, and there are myriad of reasons why someone makes a choice, and we need to protect that bodily autonomy and not take it away."

More: The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. What happens next in Pa.?

The Erie Pride Parade and Festival moves north in the 1400 block of State Street in Erie on Saturday.
The Erie Pride Parade and Festival moves north in the 1400 block of State Street in Erie on Saturday.

Erie Mayor Joe Schember officially proclaimed June 25 as Pride Day in Erie and shared his commitment to equality.

"We treat every individual with dignity and respect and Pride Month is an important part of my team's mission," he said. "We celebrate Erie's rich cultural diversity. If I accomplish nothing else as mayor, the one thing I want to accomplish is that every individual in Erie is accepted and valued."

Baylee DeMuth can be reached at 814-450-3425 or bdemuth@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @BayleeDeMuth.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Pride Parade and Festival draws thousands downtown