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Teens find welcome, acceptance at pride parade We are committed to serving the Transgender community  June 24, 2007
Jasmine Pierce, 16, traveled all the way from Gold Bar to attend the Seattle Pride Parade Sunday. The person who took her: her mother.
"I want my children to grow up with open minds," said Nikki Midyette, 37. "I want to support my daughter."
Dozens of teens attended the festivities in downtown Seattle, some with families, others with friends. Some were gay and some were just supportive of the environment that the parade fostered for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
"(The parade) seems to be a chance for people to celebrate without anyone being down on you," said Kayla Hough, a 15-year-old who attends Liberty High School in Issaquah. "Everybody is just so open and so happy."
Mark, 16, a junior at Lakeside High School who did not want to give his last name, stood on a lamppost to see the parade over the crowd. He marched in the parade last year with the Safe Schools Coalition, a group that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths.
"It's fun to come see everything," he said. "All of Seattle gets invaded by the entire gay population of Washington. There's no environment like this anywhere else."
He attended the parade with friend Ari Bergman, 15, also a junior at Lakeside. Bergman, who will be the president of the school's Gay, Lesbian or Whatever club this fall, said the parade was different from she what she expected. "The parade is a lot more adult-oriented than I realized, but I like it anyway," Bergman said.
The parade also drew college students.
Demi Larsen, a 19-year-old who will attend Central Washington University this fall, was "a little shocked" by some of the outrageous -- and sometimes skimpy -- outfits people wore.
She came to the parade with friends who donned stickers and buttons in support of gays and lesbians.
Larsen liked that "everyone is so understanding."
Her friend, Colin Gill, blew bubbles as he watched the parade pass by.
The 19-year-old incoming freshman at Seattle Central Community College said people at the parade "are able to be who they are, gay, lesbian or transgender, whoever they are."
Alex Luo, 18, who will be a freshman at Brandeis University, marveled at the number of people who attended the parade.
"It's a really supportive environment, being able to celebrate acceptance," Luo said, "Even if you're not gay or not bi, everyone is supportive (of you). The stickers, the colors, it's all so cool."
At least one group of gay and lesbian youths marched in the parade, carrying a banner and waving to the crowd. A few rode scooters in the street.
On the sidewalks lining the parade, some teens were ready to make a statement.
Shima Houshyar, who will be a freshman at the University of Washington in the fall, said that she didn't think much about her sexuality in high school, but she has explored it more recently.
The 18-year-old said she is comfortable with sharing who she is. "Tell the world." Cppyright © 2006-2007 The STHN Group
Last modified: August 16, 2007 |
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