Celebrities, politicians,  cars, businesses, marching groups, floats and of course the Wells Fargo Bank’s team of horses with the stage coach all celebrating at this years St. Pete Pride Festival event. Over 140 units were in this years GLBTA PRIDE parade and over 300 street festival vendors were set up all along 8 blocks on Central Ave.  It turned out to be the largest ever event of the festivals history. It was a bit rainy at times but of the over 150,000 festival attendees but it seemed like no one really wanted to leave. This was an increase of the est 100,000 anticipating being there.

The week was strong with sentiment about the 2 U.S. Supreme Court positive GLBT rulings dealing with federal recognized gay marriage rights with states having legalized same sex marriages with the DOMA ruling and California’s Prop 8 ruling on same- sex marriages legal in California. The courts have decided in favor of the GLBT causes in both cases. Joyous victorious celebrations were continued through the weekend at  St. Pete Pride.

It brought even more people out to the PRIDE event that was a recorder breaker. This was the first time in the 11 year history, that rain poured on the parade but little to overshadow all the great news stories of the week.

Florida’s largest Gay PRIDE event had revelers from all over the country attending. We met up with a large number of people from Texas, Georgia, Illinois and New York besides from all over the Sunshine state in attendance.

“It was simply awesome!” we heard a lot of people saying. Rainbows were the true colors of choice again all over the Central Ave. streets.

Mark & I were truly honored as this years St. Pete PRIDE Grand Marshals.

Congratulations Pride’s Executive Director Erik Skains and the board and volunteers of this years St. Pete Pride festivities. The pics tell the story….