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CNY Pride Event Attracts Thousands to Syracuse's Inner Harbor

A colorful family of gay rights supporters celebrated love, openness and equality on Saturday, June 15, along Syracuse’s Inner Harbor .  The CNY Pride Parade and Festival attracted church groups, businesses, community organizations and hundreds of families and individuals. 

Tully resident Dori Colvin, 50, marched in the parade with her partner, Robin Latham, 47.  The couple has been together for nine months.  They hope pride events will eventually end discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.

“Knowledge is power – awareness is even better.  And if we come out, and show people that we’re just like anybody else…" said Colvin.  "There’s prayer professionals, down to grassroots people who are just farmers… who just want to be with the person who their heart says they need to be with.

Credit Valerie Crowder, WAER News
After marching in the CNY Pride Parade, Robin Latham, left, and Dori Colvin prepare to enjoy food and vendors at the annual CNY Pride Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Churches like All Saints Parish in Syracuse were also represented at the pride event.  Meg Ksander, who serves on staff there, marched with her fellow congregation members to display what she describes as their moral responsibility to all people.

“God created all human beings in God’s image and likeness.  So, we need, sort of by definition as Catholic Christians, to stand with all our sisters and brothers," Ksander said. 

All Saints Parish started in 2008, and has accepted those from the LGBTQ community since its inception.  One such member, Mark Cerosaletti, 55, accompanied Ksander at the day's events.  He and his husband, Mark Morris, 57, were legally married on their 25th anniversary, two-and-a-half years ago. 

"All are welcome at the table of the Lord," Cerosaletti said. 

Credit Valerie Crowder, WAER News
Mark Cerosaletti, left, and Mark Morris with All Saints Parish in Syracuse embrace after more than 27 years together at the CNY Pride Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Pride_Mark.mp3
An interview with WAER's Valerie Crowder, in which Mark Cerosaletti, an All Saints Parish member, discusses his vision for the Catholic Church's acceptance of LGBTQ members.

Youth, such as, Adeline Livingston, 12, and Anna Livingston, 14, already consider themselves LGBTQ activists.  Their father, Mallory Livingston, 52, is a transgender woman.  Adeline has attended five gay pride rallies, while Anna has attended two.  They brought their best friends, Olivia Root, 12, and Alice Shinaman, 12, with them to the CNY Pride Festival.  Olivia has also attended two rallies, and Saturday's pride event is Alice's first.  They look forward to more in the future.

"I love it.  It feels so homey, and people respect everybody.  Nobody judges for who anybody else is," Alice said. 

Credit Valerie Crowder, WAER News
From left -- Olivia Root, 12, Alice Shinaman, 12, Adeline Livingston, 12, and Anna Livingston, 14, wear brightly-colored clothing to show their support of LGBTQ equality at CNY's Pride Festival. The girls plan to continue to advocate for gay rights as they grow older.

Pride_Girls_Web.mp3
Adeline Livingston, 12, Anna Livingston, 14, Olivia Root, 12, and Alice Shinaman, 12, share the progress they'd like to see in their lifetimes.

Credit Valerie Crowder, WAER News
Adeline Livingston, left, and Anna Livingston are eager to show how proud they are of their father, Mallory Livingston, center, at the CNY Pride Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Since this year's celebration highlighted marriage equality, Jason Galvez, 38, and his husband Eric Galvez, 34, had the chance to serve as Grand Marshals for the CNY Pride Parade.  As a CNY native, Jason excitedly accepted the chance to lead his first pride march in Syracuse.     

Credit Valerie Crowder, WAER News
After leading the CNY Pride Parade, Eric Galvez, left, and Jason Galvez, who've been married for 11 years, celebrate their family with their two-year-old son Luke Galvez at the CNY Pride Festival on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Pride_Galvez.mp3
An interview with WAER's Valerie Crowder, in which Jason Galvez shares his views on marriage equality.

The CNY Pride Parade and Festival wrapped up a week-long celebration, which included a flag-raising at Syracuse City Hall and an interfaith service.

 

 

Valerie studies Newspaper Online Journalism at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She began reporting for WAER in 2008. Two years later, she started helping produce the afternoon state and local newscasts. Then, her passion for radio led her to report and anchor local news for KBEC 1390-AM in Waxahachie, TX from 2011 – 2012. After returning to WAER, she jumped right back in as assistant producer and weekend reporter. Now, she’s primarily interested in multimedia journalism, telling stories through print, photography and audio for the web. But you can still hear her this fall, as Friday’s host for All Things Considered. She enjoys the beautiful scenery around Syracuse. And she loves serving Central New Yorkers!