a day ago
'We were invisible': Pride parade attendees celebrate dispute security concerns
Thousands cheered as performers, drag queens and public officials moved down Massachusetts Avenue, undeterred by cloudy skies and heightened anxiety over security.
Downtown was filled with color as the joy radiating from Indianapolis Pride Parade attendees overshadowed security concerns and political frustrations. Indy Pride estimated 30,000 people attended the parade, according to Indianapolis Fire Marshal, Deputy Chief Michael Beard.
June is Pride Month. Here's how Indy's LGBTQ+ community is celebrating 🌈
Attendees emphasized the importance of empowering everyone to live authentically. "There wasn't any support when we were younger," said Divi Courtney, 42, from southeast Indianapolis. "We were invisible."
Mike Javorsky, 43, wore a corgi named Maple in a backpack as he spoke about the importance of celebrating. He said his role was to be supportive of those who felt less comfortable attending the parade.
Multiple guests said they were hesitant about attending this year's celebration. Celina Watkins, 45, said she was concerned for the group of three teenagers she drove the roughly 50 miles from Greensburg southeast of Indianapolis. If anything happened, she told them, they would leave immediately.
Ten minutes into the parade, she photographed three white men dressed in black shirts and military fatigues who handed out pro-Aryan race pamphlets. They were quiet, she said, and glared at guests watching the parade.
Evan Hart, 21, who woke up at 3 a.m. to carpool from Tell City, said he saw the men carrying a large skull flag. He was concerned for his safety attending this year, but felt law enforcement was on top of everything, including monitoring the three men.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who has reduced public appearances following backlash over a scandal involving his knowledge of allegations about sexual misconduct, walked the parade route. On June 10, a spokesperson for the city said Hogsett would not be attending a previously scheduled press conference on homelessness, instead replacing it with a virtual briefing by others familiar with his efforts.
The parade began hours before Indianapolis' No Kings Day protest, a national day of protest pushing back on President Donald Trump's actions since taking office. Some guests said the events being on the same day changed how the parade protest felt and they carried anti-Trump items. "No Kings Only Queens," read one sign.
