Monica Meyer, wearing one of Outfront Minnesota's "We The People means everyone" t-shirts, stands beside a banner which reads "OutFront Celebrates 50 Iconic LGBTQ+ Activists For 50 Years Since Stonewall," behind which photos of several of those icons are displayed on picket signs.

Written by Jim Walsh

June 24, 2019

“Since the day President Trump took office, his administration has waged a nonstop onslaught against the rights of LGBTQ people,” detailed the National Center for Transgender Equalityearlier this year. Given that ongoing malaise, along with the Catholic Church’s latest edict on how transgender people should live their lives, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots all made for especially meaningful Pride marches and events all over the world over the weekend. MinnPost took in the Minneapolis edition, the 2019 Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride parade, in photos and interviews:

 “What I think about Pride always is we all remember our first Pride. You feel so isolated and you feel like something’s wrong with you, and then you come to a place where people see you and they affirm you and they celebrate about love. It’s always affirming. It’s an event that always moves me. We talk about it at Outfront, and we also talk about the seeds of the resistance: It started with looking at the injustices that LBGTQ people face, but particularly trans women of color, and saying, ‘No more.’ And resisting with grace, and glitter, and love, but resisting. I think that’s where we’re at now, with an administration that is attacking trans people in as many ways as they can, and who is really doing damage to some of the progress we’ve made around LGBTQ equity. So I feel like it’s a good spirit of celebration and having fun, but also about resistance and fighting for justice.”

Monica Meyer, executive director, Outfront Minnesota, the oldest LGBTQ rights organization in Minnesota

Twin Cities Pride 2019 as captured by Jim Walsh of the MinnPost

In front of marchers representing Target co., two people present their bisexual pride flags in the midst of the parade.
Because of road construction on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, the route of the 2019 Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride parade traveled along Third Street, Second Avenue and Grant Street to Loring Park Sunday afternoon.
Dave and Hildie Edwards face the camera. Dave, wearing a shirt that reads "protect trans kids," smiles. Hildie, dressed in rainbow fashion, displays a peace sign to the camera.
Dave and Hildie Edwards, Minneapolis. “My oldest daughter Hildie is 8 and trans,” said Dave. “Hildie transitioned in kindergarten, and we had a really tough experience with her school, Nova Classical Academy. It was a battle for our family to get the supp
Stephanie and Carla Peck smile towards the camera. Dressed in rainbows and holding a transgender pride flag, they display a sign that reads "I love my trans affirming Mayflower UCC Church."
Stephanie and Carla Peck, Burnsville. “My church is Mayflower United Church of Christ in south Minneapolis,” said Stephanie. “I want the Pope to see this. I want the Pope to see I have an affirming church. I am a trans person, so it’s important that we sh
Joe Strauss and Bill Baldus stand smiling, arms around each other and holding two signs. One reads "My gay son has made me a better man!" and the other reads "Proud Uncle!"
Joe Strauss, Wheaton, Illinois, and Bill Baldus, Minneapolis. “We’re brother-in-laws,” said Strauss. “We’ve marched in the gay pride parade in Chicago, and this is my first time marching in Minneapolis. My son is a gay son; he’s a radiologist in Chicago.
A small crowd stands together, each holding picket signs featuring influential figures in the LGBTQ+ community.
Ellie Dawson-Moore (center, bright green outfit). “It’s Stonewall’s 50th anniversary and these people are basically the people who paved the way for us, people we looked up to as queer icons as a community.”
Parker Janssen holds a picket sign featuring Harvey Milk speaking into a microphone which reads "Harvey Milk, 1930-1978" and features the OutFront MN and Stonewall 50th anniversary logos.
Parker Janssen, Champlin. “This is my first Pride, so I’m very excited to be here. I identify as queer in both sexuality and gender. I picked Harvey Milk today because he was the first gay congressman, in San Francisco, and what he did is really inspiring
Supporters of Ilhan Omar, each wearing a shirt featuring her name written in a scrawling rainbow font, stand together holding a banner covered in colorful patterns and reading "We see you and stand with you" and "Ilhan for congress."
Davis Senseman (center, green hat). “Every community of struggle is intertwined. If the queer community is oppressed, then everybody is oppressed. They come to divide us. The right wing comes to divide us. What Ilhan [Omar] is really good about is that ev
A number of marchers display signs with slogans such as "Love is love," "Muslims make America great!" and "Stop Iranian sanctions."
A truck festooned with banners reading “Muslims For Pride,” “Some Muslims Are Gay, Get Over It” and “Love Embraces ALL” led a group of marchers/dancers who held the Iranian flag and signs proclaiming, “No War in Iran,” “Stop Iranian Sanctions,” “Trans Wom
Leila Ali displays her "Muslims make America great!" sign to the camera while holding a yellow folding fan. Another poster reading "Trans women of color started pride" is visible in the background among the marchers as well.
“It’s important to support our brothers and sisters,” said Leila Ali of her “Muslims Make America Great!” sign. “A lot of Muslims are gay, and we are supporting them, and we want the world to know that we are at peace with everybody and that we love every
A float with a rainbow banner along its side featuring the logos of sports teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx carries several waving individuals. The Timberwolves mascot, bearing a rainbow flag and headband, sits at the edge of the vehicle.
Members of the Minnesota Lynx — including WNBA/Olympic champion and former Pride parade grand marshal Seimone Augustus — waved to the crowd.
A small crowd stands with colorful shirts and signs reading slogans such as "Black Lives Matter," "Love they neighbor*," "Unitarian Universalists love our LGBTQ siblings and kin," and "Love is Love."
Danny Givens, Jr. (center, in Black Lives Matter shirt): “We’re here representing MUUSJA (Minnesota Universal Unitarian Social Justice Alliance), an organization designed to help faith-based organizations and churches to become more aligned with their mis
A crowd of Angela Conley supporters and the County Commissioner herself stand with shirts and signs featuring her name and logo, all grinning towards the camera.
Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley (center, red T-shirt): “We have to understand that there are people who lost their lives. There are people who fought against the machine to have the same rights as everyone else, and it doesn’t matter who you l
Several marchers stand wearing shirts reading "Inclusive Methodists" and holding a red banner which reads "United Methodist Reconciling Congregations."
Sarah Black, Excelsior United Methodist Church (center, in purple Inclusive Methodists shirt). “All in, baby. Everyone’s in. I want everyone to know that God loves everyone, and if you want to be in church, you can be there. We have a reconciling congrega
A crowd marches along the parade route in t-shirts featuring the General Mills logo. At the front, one individual holds a sign that reads "Trans + Gay = Spectacular."
Because of road construction in downtown Minneapolis, the route of the 2019 Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride parade traveled along Third Street, Second Avenue and Grant Street to Loring Park Sunday afternoon.
Marianne Graham, Kathleen Olsen, and Cheryl Maloney stand beside a van with several posters across its side.
Left-to-right: Marianne Graham, Kathleen Olsen, Cheryl Maloney. “This is my car. I’ve been with the Sisters Of Carondelet community as consociate for over 30 years,” said Maloney. “We’re consociates. We’re lay members of the Sisters Of Carondelet communit
A Minnesota Department of Transportation with a rainbow flag hanging off its back and a digital sign reading "Happy Pride" drives off, with one staff member following behind and holding two smaller rainbow flags.
Until next year …

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