Thousands of people filled the city streets on Saturday as the annual Noho Pride Day march rolled through downtown, from Old South Street to the Three County Fairgrounds.
A sea of parade-watchers waving and wearing rainbow flags and other rainbow-colored clothing parted for parade participants and floats, representing numerous local organizations, schools, businesses and religious groups showing support for LGBTQ+ rights. The 38th annual celebration also served as a call for continued activism in the struggle for equality.
“This is the best day of the year,” said Amherst resident Sally Chaffee, a member of the activist group the Raging Grannies. The members wore hats adorned with flowers and buttons.
Chaffee said the group sings popular tunes with their own made-up lyrics as part of their parade march, and many of the lyrics address gay pride and “the ongoing struggle for gay rights and beyond.” For example, they sang a song called “Our own identity,” about expressing one’s gender and sexuality, to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon.”
Northampton resident Carolyn Oppenheim, another one of the Raging Grannies, said the best part of the day is hearing the cheering crowds as the group makes its way through downtown.
https://www.gazettenet.com/38th-annual-Noho-Pride-Parade-25256568
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