I love seeing the pictures of prides around the world. Viewing how some countries that are further along in and others that are just starting out in the LGBTQ+ equality fight are celebrating their prides is full of emotions. Knowing that some have such a long way to go, others are doing it better than the US, and knowing that the entire overall theme is L.O.V.E.
The American Pride movement of course started with the riots at Stonewall Inn. Not all American prides pay homage to that event, but I truly love the fact that the town I live in calls its celebration Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Festival and Parade. It bring us back to the core, the center, the catalyst. Many countries point back to Stonewall as THE catalyst for all LGBTQ+ equality fights and make mention of it during their Prides. The Dublin, Ireland Pride celebrants did mention Stonewall in their speeches but Ireland has its own catalyst.
In 1983 after the killing of Declan Flynn by so-called “queer-bashers”, five people were charged in relation to his death. No one went to jail. The march that year is generally seen as the catalyst for the gay rights movement in Ireland.
“There was no tech giant or vodka company there. We were marching for ourselves because a man was killed, brutally beaten to death in a park, and a judge said that killing a man in an area that was known to be a cruising area could never be murder,” said veteran LGBTI+ campaigner Izzy Kamikaze. – irishtimes.com
In Dublin, Ireland yesterday, 60,000 people came to march in the Pride Parade, twice as many as last year. With the theme of "We Are Family," who wouldn't want to march!
But as many people have noted over the past 5 years here in America and around the globe, pride is becoming more of a festival than a protest, when it should be both equally.
It's also becoming some what of a cash cow with people needing to pay to play. For the Dublin, Ireland Parade, it costs €500 for a group of 25 to march in the parade, €2,000 for 150 people or more (community groups can go free), and companies like Facebook, Indeed, and Aer Lingus needed to pay up to €5,000 to participate. Aer Lingus did have a great float and they definitely showed their pride.
For more photos of the Dublin Pride Parade, head over to the Irish Times and view the wonderful photos by Tom Honan.
Before we share videos from the parade, who is Sister Sledge?
Sisters, Debbie, Joni, and Kim (sister Kathy stepped away from the ensemble in 1989), are daughters of entrepreneur/actress Florez Sledge and celebrated Broadway performer Edwin Sledge. Their grandmother, Viola Beatrix Hairston Williams, an accomplished lyric-opera soprano, provided unique master class on vocal training to the siblings early on.
Arranging for her granddaughters to perform at religious events and community functions, the quartet were first presented to the world as "Mrs. Williams Granddaughters.” Before long, they had made a band and with Debbie serving as vocal arranger, Joni as artistic director and Mom, Florez as manager, Sister Sledge was born.
For more about Sister Sledge, head over to their biography/booking page here.
And now, one of their biggest hits, "We Are Family."
Here's also a short 2 minute video of the Dublin Pride Parade followed by the entire parade.
The entire Dublin, Ireland Pride Parade