Tucson will host the 15th annual Pride on Parade along Fourth Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 10. Pride on Parade was created to give hope and strength to those who struggle with acceptance and help them become honest with their peers and families. Tucson Pride’s Pride in the Desert, in particular, was created to give the community a place to come together and celebrate each other with respect.
ASUA’s Pride Alliance is preparing for Coming Out Week with multiple interactive events for students to attend. According to Mary Knudson, the co-director of ASUA Pride Alliance, Pride Alliance will not be attending the parade because, based on their independent poll, not enough students are able to go. However, the directors plan to make an ASUA Pride Alliance banner and hold up signs while doing a musical number during the parade.
“Organizing the many events that take place on campus — and serve the purpose of helping bring the Pride feeling to campus — is where our students devote their time and energy,” wrote Jen Hoefle-Olson, program director for LGBTQ Affairs in an email interview.
The parade will start at the corner of Second Street and Fourth Avenue and will march until the beginning of Tucson Meet Yourself — where festivalgoers can get a taste of Tucson culture.
According to Tucson Pride, Tucson’s first Pride on Parade was held along Fourth Avenue on Sunday, June 24, 2000. The Block Party held after the parade became a Tucson tradition, but because of the streetcar construction in 2010, all parades on Fourth Avenue came to an end until Tucson Pride proudly returned Pride on Parade to its original home. Pride on Parade became a historic event, since it was the first parade back on Fourth Avenue after four years.
Pride on Parade will have as its Entertainer Grand Marshall Tempest DuJour. Tempest DuJour is a professional costume designer and professor for the UA School of Theatre, Film and Television. She is the host of Retro Game Show Night and more.
Pride on Parade will start at 6 p.m. The Block Party will begin at 7 p.m. and will end at 9 p.m.
“Because the parade is happening over Family Weekend, I would be interested to see whether or not that actually will bring more people to it, or takes away from the student population that is attending,” Knudson said.
Learn more about Coming Out Week by visiting lgbtq.arizona.edu/ua-coming-out-week-2015
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