ASU students united on Saturday for the annual Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade, joining marchers and festival attendees in support of the LGBTQ community.
Members of ASU groups LGBTQ Coalition, Spectrum at ASU West, and Students for Liberty marched on Saturday in support of rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community.
“We want to show everybody that we can branch out — we can be part of the queer community as a whole,” said Sarah Murray, co-director of ASU’s LGBTQ Coalition. “It shows not only students that there are other things that we can be doing, but it shows people here that something does exist at ASU.”
The event was hosted by Phoenix Pride, which promotes the LGBTQ community with pageants, galas and festivals.
Hundreds of people marched down Third Street from Thomas Road to Indian School Road in Phoenix. Spectators could vote for their favorite floats, which included offerings from Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Celebration of Life Presbyterian Church and the Gay and Lesbian Association of Darts.
Murray, a creative writing sophomore, said it was amazing to see the marchers, who are “not afraid of anything.”
“Everybody is feeling very comfortable with being themselves,” she said. “Everybody is just having a good time … and showing people that they are fearless and they’re people too.”
Ross Kenyon, a leadership team member for ASU’s Students for Liberty, said it was important for the libertarian group to reach out to the LGBTQ community.
“We really hate the way peaceful minorities of any type are treated,” Kenyon said. “If you’re peaceful, it doesn’t really matter what your racial group is or how you organize yourself sexually.”
Kenyon marched with the coalition, waving a Gadsden Flag reading the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me.”
“We just want to get out there and show that we do care about issues that affect the LGBTQ community,” Kenyon said.
Following the march, a Pride Festival took place at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix on Saturday and Sunday. The festival hosted hundreds of booths and activities, including comedians, live DJs and a wedding exposition.
Saturday’s events included performances by Nina Sky and Colby O’Donis, while Terri Nunn & Berlin and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts headlined on Sunday.
ASU’s LGBTQ student groups hosted a booth at the event, and ASU’s Students for Liberty shared one. Lisa Pittari, LGBTQ Specialist for ASU, provided information to festival attendees about ASU’s clubs and programs offered on campus, including the LGBT Certificate program.
“It’s really important to connect with the greater community and really reach our roots,” Pittari said. “LGBTQ communities do so much great stuff outside of ASU. We would love to connect ASU with that greater community.”
Murray said over the last two years, she has come to love the excitement and camaraderie of the Phoenix Pride event.
“You’re walking down and you’re yelling and you’re screaming and they’re screaming right back at you, and there’s this energy, this bond,” Murray said. “You don’t even know this person, but you’re just glad to be there.”
Reach the reporter at joseph.schmidt@asu.edu
