Sat 8/8 @ noon
This year’s Cleveland Pride Parade and Festival was looking to be the celebration of all celebrations. The day before the scheduled Sat 6/27 event, the Supreme Court handed down its decision that same-sex marriage was now legal in every state of the union.
Alas, the weather did not cooperate and, with a giant storm in the offing, organizers cancelled the event at Voinovich Park. The only people who showed up were the dozen or so protesters who always take their spot near the Free Stamp at E. 9th and Lakeside to tell the parade marchers they are going to hell. They stood in the rain for a couple of hours before realizing that the parade had passed them by — in more ways than one.
After much discussion about whether to reschedule, hold a different kind of event or just do a bigger celebration next year, the organizers decided to reschedule. So Pride will take place on Sat 8/8, same time same place. The parade will step off at noon from W. 3rd and Superior; the festival will kick off at 1pm at Voinovich Park.
The cancellation meant a financial hit, with insurance covering only $50,000 of the $80,000 costs. So there’s a GoFundMe page if you’d like to contribute.
They will also need to re-recruit volunteers. Go here for more information.
[Photo by Anastasia Pantsios]800 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44114