PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands of people gathered along Market Street on Saturday to enjoy the city’s very first National Coming Out Day parade.
Previously called OutFest, a weekend LGBTQ festival which has always been scheduled close to National Coming Out Day, which is Oct. 11 — OURfest is now a program of community resource nonprofit GALAEI, the first three letters standing for “our uniting resilience.”
Joanna Stone of Merion Station brought her children to the parade so they could all enjoy the celebration.
“With GALAEI hosting it, it has a lot more to do with representation — Black and brown folks in the community that I think are often underserved by what has been traditionally, in Philadelphia, a pretty white event. So they're trying to show a more diverse group of marginalized and prideful people that are here in the city,” Stone said.
The parade ran from Independence Mall to City Hall and featured a drum line and several floats, including churches, community groups and professional organizations.
Bobby Morris said a lot of people came out to celebrate despite some light rain.
“I'm just out celebrating the community, enjoying the day. It's a little bit rainy but, you know, still lots of people out,” he said.
For Ella Duwal, it is an important moment for LGBTQ people.
“I think it's really important for the community and for LGBT people in the city and in the country in general, because we are under attack right now — and celebrating who we are is important.”
OURfest continues Sunday with a resource fair and street festival in the Gayborhood from noon to 7 p.m.