Tag: Pride Parade

Albuquerque Celebrates LGBTIQ+ Pride

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By Hilary Broman

Staff Reporter

Photos By Hilary Broman and Wade Faast

Thousands of people gathered along the sides of Lomas Boulevard on Saturday morning to celebrate the 41st annual Pride Parade.

The parade was a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer community.

Many local businesses participated in the parade such as; Sandia National Laboratories and Albuquerque Public Schools.

Nationally recognized businesses such as; Planned Parenthood and T-Mobile also participated.

The Grand Marshal of the parade was Axel Andrews, an entertainer from Pulse Nightclub in Orlando Florida.

Pulse Nightclub was the location of a deadly mass shooting that took place in June 2016, in which the shooter specifically targeted members of the LGBTIQ community.

Pride Parades around the world are meant to build unity and strength in the LGBTIQ+ community as well as send a message to others that they will not tolerate hate.

This was the first year the Albuquerque Pride Parade took place on Lomas Boulevard.

Due to ART construction on central the parade did not take place on its normal route.

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A group affiliated with TheRedNation.org brings awareness to Native and Indigenous pride. (Hilary Broman/ CNM Chronicle)
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Albuquerque Public Schools demand safe schools for LGBTIQ youth with support from Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs from around the city. (Hilary Broman/ CNM Chronicle)
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Parade participant shows her support for John Abrams, Edgewood town Councilor and current Congressional Seat candidate, with a positive message. (Hilary Broman/ CNM Chronicle)
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Parade participant promotes the practice of consensual sex. “Consent is Sexy” is a campaign targeted toward ending date rape and sexual assault, specifically on college campuses. (Hilary Broman/CNM Chronicle)
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Pride Parade participant shows her support for Maggie Hart Stebbins, Bernalillo County Commissioner, while blowing bubbles at the crowd. (Hilary Broman/CNM Chronicle)
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This year’s Pride Parade Grand Marshal Axel Andrews waves to the spectators and supporters that lines Lomas Ave for the 2017 Albuquerque Pride Parade. (Wade Faast/CNM Chronicle)
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More than 20 volunteers with Planned Parenthood and Teen ‘Mpower carry the largest pride flag of the day down Lomas Ave. (Wade Faast/CNM Chronicle)
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Olivia Gallegos watches and cheers the parade participants with her daughter Lucy. While not a member of the LGBT community herself, Olivia said it’s important to show support as the struggle is still on going. (Wade Faast/CNM Chronicle)
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Several Christian churches brought floats and organized marchers for this years pride parade. Episcopal Reverend Sylvia Miller-Mutia (center) said it’s important to have a Christian presence at LGBT events as a public display of love to drown out the hate. (Wade Faast/CNM Chronicle)
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Aaron Edwards turns his back to a jet of cold water but doesn’t try to escape the stream. With temperatures in the 90’s, water cannons and water guns were popular with many of the floats, and not shortage of spectators asking to be sprayed. (Wade Faast/CNM Chronicle)

2017 Guide to Pride

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Story and Photo by Hilary Broman

Senior Staff Reporter

June 6, 2017

June is Pride Month. Cities from all over the world celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer community.

Pride also serves as a safe space for the LGBTIQ+ community to come together to raise awareness of issues concerning the community such as; inequality, discrimination and bigotry.

Albuquerque Pride kicks off its celebration on Wednesday, June 7th and lasts throughout the weekend. With various events including a candlelight vigil and a parade the Albuquerque LGBTIQ+ community will come together to celebrate diversity and acceptance.

The CNM Chronicle gathered information from the Albuquerque Pride website and compiled a list of events for students who are interested in participating.

1. Event: Figuratively Speaking – Art Show

When: June 7th at 5:00-9:00pm

Where: Fine Arts Building at EXPO New Mexico State Fairgrounds

Cost: Free

About: “This is a joint art show for David Zaintz and Max Woltman. The exhibition, in association with Albuquerque Pride, includes original paintings and photographs as well as collaborations by the artists. This will be a rare opportunity to see the one-of-a-kind special commissioned piece “Homogenize a la a amistad a travel de la reincarnation de Dorian Gray” (Tribute to Friendship Through the Reincarnation of Dorian Gray),” according to the event Facebook page.

2. Event: Candlelight Vigil

When: June 8th at 7:30om

Where: Morningside Park – Morningside Dr SE & Lead Ave SE

Cost: Free

About: “This year’s Candlelight Vigil will be a reflection and remembrance in solidarity through pride and a celebration of our diversity; creating a future in unity and love. Experience an evening of community, sharing and music. This is a free event where nearly 500 people gathered last year,” from the event Facebook page.

3. Event: PrideFest Free Friday

When: June 9th

Where: State Fairgrounds Expo NM

Cost: Free

About: “This is a family-friendly, FREE Friday, pre-Pride celebration including the annual Art Show, a Music Festival featuring Severo y Grupo Fuego, The MLC Band and Encantada The Band of Enchantment and the movie, Moana,” as stated on the event Facebook page.

4. Event: Albuquerque Pride Parade: Solidarity Through Pride

When: June 10th at 10:00am

Where: Along Lomas from Washington to San Pedro

Cost: Free

About: This year’s theme “Solidarity through Pride” gives the community the opportunity to reflect on the history of the LGBTIQ community in New Mexico. The Pride Parade includes floats, classic cars, motorcycles, horses, and dancers. It is the second largest parade in New Mexico. New to the Pride Parade is Park N’ Ride Service. There will be a free shuttle service running every 10 minutes from Expo New Mexico – Gate 4 (on San Pedro) to one of 3 parade route locations on Roma Ave. Service runs from 7:30am until 11:30am, as stated on the Albuquerque PrideFest Website.  Facebook page.

5. Event: PrideFest 2017

When: June 10th at 10:00am-6:30pm

Where: Expo New Mexico – Gate 3 – 300 San Pedro Dr NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

Cost: $15.00/ Children 10 and under are free ($10 if purchased online before event-click here)

About: After the Pride Parade the celebration continues with PrideFest at Expo New Mexico. The event includes music, dance, art, local performers, radio stations and food vendors.  This annual event averages about 9,000 people and brings people from all over the Southwest. For more information click here.

6. Event: NM Resist Rally for the Equality March

When: June 11th at 12:30pm-2:00pm

Where: Robinson Park – 810 Copper Ave. NW Albuquerque, NM 87102

Cost: Free

About: Mobilizing New Mexico LGBTQ+ communities, loved ones and allies. The particular focus is on those who have been actively silenced and neglected. This is a fight to affirm and protect LGBTQ+ rights, safety and full humanity. This is a call to action; standing together for change.

“Our resistance is our existence,” as stated on the event Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

Pride and equality for all

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By the Chronicle Editorial Board

It is such a sad occasion that after a great event such as the Pride parade mentioned in the front page article called All the colors of the rainbow at the 2014 Pride Parade, that parade goers are still advised by event coordinators to be aware of one’s environment and to take appropriate precautions after a day at Pride, according to abqpride.com.

People of any creed, race or sexual orientation should not have to be advised to look over their shoulders when gathering anywhere for any reason, and are just reminded of how far our society must still go in order to achieve true equality.

What was great about this year’s event though was that there were less protesters and they did not end up walking in the parade which had been the case in previous years, as only two people were protesting the parade’s beginning point at Girard Boulevard and Central Avenue.

No one should be forced to hear gay slurs or be told that god hates them, because everyone deserves to live their lives the way they want to, without judgment or ridicule for just being who they are in life.

Hopefully in the coming years of the parade there will be no one protesting the equality of LGBTQ individuals, because everyone is entitled to have the same rights as every other indi­vidual and should not be told how to live one’s life or who they should love.

It is also a brilliant idea that the CNM community recog­nizes that there is a need for help in the LGBTQ community with the new LGBTQ plus group, and that students here have a foundation and are supported by the school.