#STAND AGAINST HATE

corner of Main and Laurel – parade starts here

where are my peeps?

where’s our group?

for sure YOU rock, little sis!

These girls rock, too – ALL TOGETHER NOW!

you girls totally rock!

my chariot for the parade – SC Gay and Lesbian Guild parade entry

(Thanks to Mar-la-ti-dah (l.) for giving up her ride in the Guild chariot)

Guild President CC (r.) drove us and served as dj for our fabulous parade music

(oh, no, she didn’ have ABBA and Dancing Queen  oh, yes, she DID!)

Robin Ridgell and the Famously Hot Mar-la-ti-dah strategize before parade

floats getting ready!

hurry up – don’t be late

Pretty waiting for Matt Tischler’s Light Brigade to organize

Baby Tonks’s very first Pride Parade – Mother beaming

this family walked beside me and made me proud

Rob is ready!

Let’s go!

The Pride Parade made an important statement once again to the city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina as we laughed, sang and chanted our way down Main Street for the first nighttime parade in our history. The crowds on the sidewalk clapped, cheered and waved their own flags to the gays and their families and friends who they knew were taking a stand for equality in a time when equality is under attack by a hostile administration in Washington, D.C.

I will never forget the older attractive African American woman sitting in a wheel chair on the sidewalk waving a small Pride flag at me as we rode by her. She was smiling with real happiness for what she was witnessing, and that brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Nothing rained on my parade last night – none of the usual group of protesters appeared – and my last view as we left Main Street was my favorite float.

Stand against hate. All together now.