GAYBORHOOD (KYW Newsradio) — Pride Month is here and Philadelphia kicked it all off on Sunday with a 600-foot Pride flag, a parade full of drummers, and tens of thousands of community members flocking from Old City to the Gayborhood for the celebration.
Leading the drummers that kicked off the parade near 6th and Walnut was Emily Pratt from Batila Philly, a Brazilian Samba Reggae band. The parade ended near 11th and Walnut.
“We have 70 drummers from all over the place to celebrate Pride and drum our hearts out,” she said.
Jeremy Williams with Philadelphia’s Urban Affairs Coalition is the event producer for 2025, and hoped the interconnection and diversity on display at Pride this year inspires those watching despite the difficult political climate across the nation.
It is every size shape and color you can see and making it even bigger with a giant rainbow,” he said.
Williams was echoed by City Councilmember Rue Landau, who is Philadelphia’s first-ever out Councilmember, and was joined at the parade and festival by fellow Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.
“This day is so important to our community now more than ever. Everyone is anxious and doesn’t know what’s coming next. This is a moment to come together to celebrate our pride and say we are not going anywhere,” said Landau.
The mood of the day was what stood out for Logan from Fishtown.
“Just color and sound and brightness,” he said. “I want to see all this energy. I love it.”