This post is coming very late as the local Pride parade was a month ago but as they say, “better late than never!”

The first couple of Pride parades that I went to were so much fun but as it has grown over the years, I’ve found it harder and harder to go watch it. This year was no different. After leaving my Saturday ukulele student’s house and grabbing some lunch, I headed downtown to grab a spot to sit. Even an hour early and roads were being closed down and people were gathering along the sidewalks.

As I ate, I pondered whether or not I should stay where I was or move somewhere else but I was worried that I might have trouble finding a good spot and losing what I already had. Not all of my pictures turned out great but this was good practice for another event that I would be taking pictures of. And with almost 400 pictures taken over the hour-long traveling party, it also taught me how to edit photos quickly

I knew heading to the parade this year was going to be crazy. I knew the parking would be a nightmare and I wasn’t too sure if I would be able to handle the crazy heat that afternoon. But I felt that this year’s Pride festivities were important to support. Sure, it was a great person test of my photography skills and well as learning my personal limits with my health but I could have done that with a different event. As a straight, cis woman, I know that I have a certain privilege that not all my friends have simply because of who they are and who they love. 2LGTBQ+ rights are being eroded all over the world and I felt that it was important to stand with the community and say, “I support you!”