SCHENECTADY — Sonia Sandoval found Saturday’s Pride festival in downtown Schenectady to be more than just a day of indulging in delicious food and dancing with close friends.
For her, it was a day of embracing authenticity and openness about one’s identity — a freedom that she, as the co-chair of Schenectady Pride, acknowledges is not a luxury for many in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.
“In Schenectady, we are fortunate to have the liberty to express ourselves in diverse ways. However, we still encounter individuals who judge us based on who we love, who we spend our time with, and how we choose to live our lives. This judgment often hinders people from living their lives to the fullest,” Sandoval expressed.
The festival on Saturday marked the official commencement of Pride Month, a tribute to the LGBTQ community that has its roots in the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. This was when patrons of a gay club in Greenwich Village stood up against the police who raided the club, sparking the gay rights movement in the United States.
Now in its 12th year, Schenectady Pride has evolved into a guiding light for the LGBTQ community, attracting a large crowd to Gateway Plaza from the Electric City and beyond.
The event has seen consistent growth over the years, with Saturday’s celebration being the largest to date, as per Anne Nelson, the entertainment chair for Schenectady Pride.
The park was bustling with dozens of vendors and food trucks, drawing in hundreds of attendees even before the official start of the festivities.
“We actually couldn’t accommodate everyone who wanted to participate,” Nelson revealed.
The day was filled with a variety of musical performances, from the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus to renditions of songs from the Broadway musical “Rent” by members of the Capital District Arts Initiative. The event also featured drag and burlesque shows, comedy acts, and for the first time, a family-friendly wrestling event organized by The Dynasty wrestling promotion.
“Our events are designed to celebrate queer joy,” Sandoval stated. “We’re not trying to exclude anyone; in fact, we aim to do the exact opposite.”
For Nancy Stroud, Pride signifies “life, love, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Stroud, who has been with her partner for 33 years and has adopted two children, believes that Pride is a recognition of their relationship and family.
However, Saturday’s event occurred at a time when LGBTQ rights are facing increased threats, highlighting the significance of Pride, according to Sandoval.
This year alone, over 500 pieces of legislation have been proposed that target members of the LGBTQ community in state legislatures across the country, as reported by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The proposed laws range from restricting LGBTQ curriculum in public schools to preventing transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
“While not all of these bills will become law, they all inflict harm on LGBTQ people,” the ACLU states on its website.
“Regardless of their attempts to attack us, we’re not going anywhere,” Sandoval declared. “Our current focus is to ensure that fewer people are harmed by this legislation.”
Jim Murray sees a connection between the harmful rhetoric against the LGBTQ community and the increasing popularity of events like Schenectady Pride.
“I believe there’s a pushback against the anti-LGBTQ sentiment. It’s like we’re saying, ‘we’re here, this is who we are, and we’re proud of it,’” he said.
Murray attended the event with his husband, Tim Moore. The couple, who have been together for ten years, were excited to spend the day with their son, who was due to join them later in the afternoon.
“We’re a gay married couple,” Moore stated. “We believe it’s important to show that we’re together and we’re out living our lives just like anyone else would.”
I agree with this event bringing the LGBTQ community together for celebration.
I agree with this event bringing the LGBTQ community together for celebration. Let love prosper!
I agree with this event bringing the LGBTQ community together for celebration. Love wins!
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