Portland Pride Parade with Diocesan Youth

Details

Portland Pride Parade, June 15 at 12:30 p.m.

Each year, our youth host the diocesan effort to participate in pride parades, and they march together in Portland Pride.

This year’s theme is “Life as Art” and we will encourage any church who wants to participate in the Portland Pride parade to RSVP using this link, but also for any church who marches in their own community celebration to share pictures with us!

Have you seen the new Episcopal crest for pride?

Details for the Portland Parade are on the form, but in essence:

• All are welcome. The parade is over a mile so being able to self-ambulate or have adequate accommodations is important.
• We don’t yet have a meeting point (the parade organizers will tell us where to meet once they close registration), but it will be at 12:30 on June 15 (see details below)
• Folks are encouraged to wear rainbow colors and to create posters or messages about God’s love for all people.
• Questions can be directed to Emily Keniston.

Here are the pictures from 2022 and from last year to get you excited!

Events and parades are happening across the state of Maine!

FIND A PRIDE EVENT IN YOUR TOWN

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Details for the Day of the Parade

Poster making with youth before the parade:
Youth and their adults can meet in the Lower Hall of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke from 10-12 to make posters and share muffins. This is the back entry to the church and you are welcome to use the parking lot. (This is a change from our original Loring House location- we joyfully have more people attending than the small conference room there can hold!) The map below shows the parking lot highlighted in yellow with a black arrow showing the traffic pattern (one way) down Park St. I will provide basic poster materials and light breakfast foods and you are most welcome to bring more to share! Just before noon, we will clean up and walk down to the parade meeting point together.

Meet for the parade:
Our designated meeting spot is Pride Zone E. We will line up on Center St. between Congress and Free St. Someone will be there with the Episcopal Maine flag starting from noon to help you find the group. We will march directly behind the Cathedral Church of St. Luke group and in front of the Unity Church of Christ group. At about 1 pm the parade will begin. We will follow the route and end at Deering Oaks Park, where the church portion of the event formally ends. Folks are welcome to explore the Pride Festival in the park but those arrangements need to be made within individual groups.

Some tips for marching:
-Wear sunscreen and/or a hat! You may want to carry a water bottle with you.
-If you plan to stay at the festival in Deering Oaks after the parade, you will want your wallet with you because going back to your car will be inconvenient, especially with the size crowd this event draws!
-This is a lot of time on our feet, and a lot of time waiting for the parade to start. Plan for your needs.
-Use a bathroom before you line up!
-The forecast for now looks sunny, but that could change. Please keep checking and plan accordingly.
-Lots of people wear rainbow colors and have elaborate clothing during Pride. Others wear jeans and t-shirts. Go with what makes you comfortable (and you can comfortably walk in). You’ll be welcome with us either way!

T-shirt pickups:
-Youth can pick up their Pride t-shirts when they are making posters at St. Luke’s from 10-12.
-Adults not joining the poster making are welcome to come to the Lower Hall from 11-11:30 to pick up shirts before heading down to the parade line up. We welcome donations of $10 from adults.
-If you need another option, please reply to this email and we can make something work!