By Elvin Carl Croker

THE second annual ‘Pride Parade’ kicked off from the Independence Park (Parade Ground) just around 4 pm Saturday with a number of persons of the LGBTQ community decked in carnival-like attire.

The small band of revellers tramped through the city waving the rainbow flag which is a symbol that identifies the LGBTQ community.

Gyrating to the popular song “I’m stepping out”, LGBTQ members spiced up the atmosphere with spirited gymnastics dance moves and boisterous chants as scores of its members stepped through the streets of Georgetown in their own unique style.
The parade drew a number of curious onlookers who lined the streets, perched from windows and their vehicles to have a look at the revel ers in their costumes as they spared no time to entertain them.

The ‘Pride Parade’ took a little over an hour journey departing the Independence Park (Parade Ground), south down Carmichael Street, then turned east into Church Street, south into Vlissengen Road and ending at the Square of the Revolution where Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson, along with others made brief closing remarks.
The parade saw support from the diplomatic community and other non-governmental organizations.

The parade is part of the Guyana Pride Festival. The organisers said that the Pride Parade is a positive stance against discrimination and violence towards LGBTQ+ people to promote self-affirmation, dignity, promote equal rights, increase visibility, build community and celebrate gender and sexual diversity. The Guyana LGBTQ Coalition is comprised of the Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow), Guyana Trans United (GTU) and Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana).