‘I am happy to be accepted’: Pride weekend kicks off in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Rainbows, pride flags and unique outfits decorated downtown St. Pete on Saturday.

“I am so happy to be accepted by so many people,” a parade goer said.

Thousands lined the streets to celebrate one of the largest pride parades in the country.

“I am super excited, it’s awesome, it’s nice to get out have a good time and celebrate equality,” another said.

Pride Guide: Everything you need to know about St. Pete Pride weekend

Parade-goers said Saturday’s events highlight the LGBTQ+ community and emphasize the significant strides in progress.

“I mean look, you have transgender parades now,” one person told WFLA. “Before they used to throw stuff at us, and they would call the cops on us, and they would arrest us, I mean arrest us if you walked down the street like that, now you can’t touch us.”

Some came to celebrate milestones and the fight for equality.

“Celebrating equality acceptance and love, that is the most important part,” a parade goer said.

While others came together to celebrate pride and acceptance in a proud way.

“It is important for me to celebrate pride this weekend because I am a married gay man and I am very happy and I am glad we can be proud together in this community.”

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