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Happy Pride!

Posted by Johnine Larsen on June 27, 2016
| Personal News and Life Updates
| 0

I spent a beautiful day celebrating beautiful people yesterday at Seattle’s 42nd annual Pride Parade. Love and support fueled everyone, and we saw a record-setting turnout. I walked with my friends and fellow business leaders in the GSBA, and I feel like I’m still glowing from the experience. I’m proud to be part of this wonderful LGBTQ+ community!

 

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I walked with the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), the largest LGBT and allied chamber of commerce in North America. I’ve been a member for 25 years!

 

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“We’re grieving because of what happened two weeks ago today,” Mayor Ed Murray said to kick off the parade, “but we are also here to celebrate our diversity, and no one will make us stop.”

Murray, Seattle’s first openly gay mayor, opened the parade with a moment of silence for the 49 victims of the mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse gay nightclub.

 

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All of Seattle got into the Pride weekend. Even Google Maps!

 

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Almost half a million rainbow-clad people stood in the streets of Seattle—the largest turnout in Seattle’s Pride history!

 

 

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Love was the message of the day. So much love.

 

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I saw so many good, quality people here. Friends, clients, Agents of Change, other real estate agents, business leaders, and so many more.

 

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Seattle’s pride parade is the third-largest in the country.

 

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Business came out in force to support the LGBTQ+ community. Just to name a few, I saw Alaska Airlines, BECU, Microsoft, Expedia, and T-Mobile.

 

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Love this!

Interesting note: this protestor doesn’t limit himself to just anti-LGBTQ+ protests. You’ll often see him outside Safeco Field screaming through a megaphone that “Baseball is Satan’s pastime.” Love drowned out hate on Sunday, though. (Thanks for that trivia, Mike!)

 

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The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards educational scholarships to undergraduate LGBTQ and Allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and who are actively involved in school and community organizations. I contribute to this scholarship every year, and I was especially impressed with this year’s recipients!

The theme of this year’s Pride Parade was The Future of Pride, and if these young adults are any indication, that future looks amazing.

 

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Happy Pride, everyone. Love conquers all!

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