Nearly 125,000 people lined Hennepin Ave. for the 36th annual Pride Parade, which celebrates the Twin Cities’ gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. AFSCME and the AFL-CIO marched proudly in the parade for the fourth time.

AFSCME supports Pride because everyone deserves to live with dignity and equal protection under the law. That’s why national leaders of AFSCME and the AFL-CIO are helping Congressman Barney Frank to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would bar workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Sadly, in 30 states it’s still legal to fire someone for being gay, lesbian or bisexual; in 37 states, it’s legal to fire someone for being transgender.

AFSCME members along the route ran up to hug and thank their union for supporting their right to live with dignity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the crowd flashed their union cards in the air and yelled “That’s my union!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Harris Brown (right) and her daughter Kim drove down from the U of M campus in Morris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fowler girls designed rainbow t-shirts for the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erika Lutgen of Local 34 marched with her sister, Kaia Melin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael and Ryan Melin enjoyed the parade with their aunt, Kendra Hill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Ramsey County and photographer Larry Mack marched with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We cheered “seat our senator” when we hooked up with Al Franken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman crossed the river to celebrate Pride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People expressed themselves beautifully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rainbow dragon tossed candy to the kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This rubber duck float blew shampoo bubbles everywhere.