Philadelphia is just one of many cities holding pride festivals and events this weekend. We still yearn for equality just like everyone else,” Regis said. “We need more events like this to make awareness and let people know that gay, straight, lesbian, whatever you choose, we’re still human beings. “I never knew the details and I had no idea it was a gay bar or a gay club.”īut once she did know, it made her appreciate the meaning and importance of the Philly Pride festival. That’s real tragic,” said Javonda Regis, who said she’d heard something about a moment of silence as the parade began. And we just stand here as a church hoping to give them some relief,” Ellis said.īy noon, as the Philly Pride parade wound its way up 7th Street in Center City, some had heard the news and were trying to process it. “We just stand here in solidarity with them and for all their families and friends that lost their loved ones. Attached to it were a rainbow flag and a computer print out that read “In Memory of Pulse Night Club Victims.” “And it’s a reminder that as far as we’ve come in 47 years we still have a very long way to go.”Īustin Ellis, representing the Whosover Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia, marched with a six-foot wooden cross slung over his right shoulder.
It came out of people telling us we can’t be free,” said Mason. Jo Mason of the Greater Philadelphia Gay Officer Action League said the events in Orlando strengthened his resolve to march, and reminded him of the ongoing struggle for gay equality. “It confirmed we had no place on earth we could be, but here,” said Ann Weiss, who was marching with fellow congregants from Beth Am Israel Congregation in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania. WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsor