Dear PFLAG Members and Friends,
We hope you will join PFLAG in marching in the Pride Parade Saturday, July 13. This year’s theme is Stonewall 50: A Legacy of Liberation. We are one of the best loved organizations as is evidenced by the cheers and applause we receive when we march by. Being part of the parade is something you will always remember. Come join us and bring your friends.
PFLAG will join with Transforming Family, TransFamily Support Services, and Transparents Tucson to march as The Alliance of Affirming Parents & Families, a coalition of those who love and support their LGBTQ children & family members. We hope to have lots of marchers and we will have music to really liven things up.
Great news! Our parade number is 32 early in the line! Our staging area is on the west side of Cleveland near Lincoln. See staging map.
We will expect to start moving at 10:20 and start the parade route at 10:47. Early time estimates are usually pretty good, but it will probably be a little later than that. Free parking is available at the Old Naval Hospital at Park Blvd. & President’s Way. Shuttles will take you from there to the parade starting at 8 AM. Shuttles will run back and forth to the festival 8 AM to midnight and again on Sunday 8 AM to 10 PM.
If you cannot walk the 1 1/2 mile route and would like to ride in a car, contact Mike Minnick at mminnick@pflag.com. Please keep in mind that you will still need to make you way to starting point and then back to your own transportation at the end of the parade. It can also be hot waiting around, so prepare appropriately.
These suggestions have stood the test of time:
- Lines for shuttles to the parade get backed up so plan on arriving at the parking lot early in order to make it to the parade on time,
- Wear comfortable shoes,
- Put on lots of sun block,
- Wear a hat,
- Bring a camera/phone,
- Bring a sign to carry. Here are a few suggestions to put on your signs: “I love my…” (choose appropriate one: lesbian daughter, gay son, transgender brother, gay friends, etc.), “Out and Proud” “Closets are for Clothes” “Gay Rights ARE Civil Rights” “Love Knows No Gender” “God loves us just the way we are”
- Wear as much PFLAG/rainbow/trans pride clothing and paraphernalia as you own.
Join us at the festival at Balboa Park, Marston Point after the parade or the following day where PFLAG will be located at Booth #131-132. We will be there to provide festival goers with information about PFLAG and to let them know how they can get their families involved.
The day before the parade, the Annual Trans Pride celebration will be held in Balboa Park at 6th and El Prado from 12:00-5:00 pm. The Spirit of Stonewall Rally and Awards at the Hillcrest Pride Flag start at 6:00 pm. This event is a time to recognize and honor community leaders.
