NEW ORLEANS — It's Pride month and where better to celebrate Pride than in New Orleans?
New Orleans accepts everyone as they are! And that's what makes this city so special. The pride parade is about community and everyone here is embracing the celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion.
The glitz, the energy, and the Pride!!
Vanessa Veselka said she's here to, "Throw glitter, I'm here to smile and clap, it's like Christmas to me in that way."
Deiara Tabasa said, "The excitement is just being around your people, that energy and what's understood doesn't have to be explained."
Keith Faulk said, "We should all be equal no matter what."
Pride Month is a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, unity, and the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Nick Kersey said, "I think pride is very important to celebrate the individuality of each person and just keeping it alive, it's happy, it's all-inclusive it's a great time."
In a city like New Orleans, where everyone is accepted Kersey said, "I am proud to be part of New Orleans and part of the city for that."
Celebrating pride is one way the community can move closer to unity. Cat Landrum said, "What's amazing about this, there's such a great turnout outside of the LGBTQ community we have an amazing amount of supporters, and allies and we just really appreciate everyone coming out and supporting us."
Where else would you see a musical icon perform in a supermarket car park, Big Freedia took to the stage at Pride Fest and the crowd was dancing to the bounce beat.
Kersey said, "It's great to see all the positive energy going around." Landrum said, "For so many years there hasn't been any support and there's been kinda an isolation and not much of a voice for those that helped elevate and support us it just means everything."
Here in New Orleans, we celebrate individuality, everyone is welcome. That's why New Orleanians love this city and why visitors fall in love with our city too.