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Marchers at Dallas' gay pride parade set their sights on equality
10:26 PM CDT on Sunday, September 20, 2009
Rainbows dotted the landscape of Cedar Springs Road on Sunday as a strong message of equality for gays and lesbians dominated the 26th annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade.
The theme of this year's parade was "Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights."
Partners Lisa Fox and Cynthia Schindler, who live south of Fort Worth, have brought daughter Bailey, now 6, to the parade since she was a baby.
"What is the parade about?" Fox asked her daughter, who wore a tie-dyed rainbow shirt.
"Family," Bailey responded.
"She understands she has two moms," Fox said. "She knows it's different."
The parade seemed to have something for everyone.
A large number of churches were represented, with many bystanders wearing stickers proclaiming "God Accepts You." Others wore "Legalize Gay" T-shirts.
Employees of large companies, including American Airlines and Bank of America, also marched.
"I think it's great you see more major corporations," said Joey Osentoski of Richardson, who attended with his partner, Michael Hurley. "A lot of it has to do with awareness. Gay people work everywhere. People now are starting to take note of it."
Others took a stand in support of gay marriage, with signs with such messages as "A civil marriage is a civil right" and "Marriage is about love not gender." Marchers also promoted the right to work and serve in the military.
Anna Allred noted the unity displayed by the crowd.
"I'm glad there's so much of that out here, since that's the most important thing," she said.
The loudest cheers came for the drag queens in glittering tiaras and long gowns and men dancing on floats. Cowboys and baton- and flag-twirlers also performed.
Student groups from the University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University made appearances. Activist Cleve Jones, founder of the national AIDS Memorial Quilt, spoke after the parade.
Jesse Garcia of the Stonewall Democrats and Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez were grand marshals. Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle and Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Eddie Burns also participated.
Dallas City Council members threw beads to the enthusiastic crowd.
"Whether you're conservative or liberal, for gay rights or not, you have to realize that part of your constituency is the gay community," said James Watkins, 19. "It's great to see the City Council out here."
The afternoon culminated in a festival at Oak Lawn's Lee Park.
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