Fresno Pride Parade returns after two-year pandemic hiatus. Thousands turn out
Olive Avenue in the heart of Fresno’s iconic Tower District was lined by thousands of people Saturday morning for the city’s 32nd “annual” Pride Parade.
The coronavirus pandemic forced a two-year hiatus hold for the event, said Bianca Lopez, one of the organizers with Fresno Rainbow Pride. But, she added, there was never any doubt that the parade — and an accompanying Pride festival at Fresno City College — would return.
Before the parade began at 10 a.m., a protester wearing a “God Hates Sinners” T-shirt walked the street. He shouted at bystanders, “Jesus died for your sins” and berated that the parade was akin to “slapping Jesus as he’s on the cross.”
Lopez said such a reaction was expected. “We’ve always had that; we’re kind of used to it,” Lopez said. “It’s almost like it wouldn’t be a Pride parade if there wasn’t some dissenters in the crowd. And that’s exactly why we have to do events like this, it’s why Pride is so important to do every year.”
The theme for the 2022 event was “In Pride,” and Lopez said that was to honor the late Fresno Rainbow Pride CEO Jeffrey Robinson, who always used the phrase as a sign-off for his email correspondence. “It’s a bittersweet day because he’s not here with us, but we’re very proud of what we’re bringing back this year.”
This year’s parade included 80 entries to march or drive the half-mile route on Olive Avenue east from Palm Avenue to beyond the Tower Theatre. The theater itself, for which the neighborhood is named, has been a lightning rod for dueling protests over its disputed purchase by a conservative Christian church.
“We’re very territorial, and as far as the Tower District, we want to keep it queer; we want to keep it weird,” Lopez said. “This neighborhood is known for being a little bit more open-minded. … We’re not going away. We’re here to stay. This is our neighborhood. It’s a neighborhood for everyone.”
Many in the crowd wore rainbow-themed T-shirts promoting messages of love, equality and acceptance. Loud cheers greeted a group of gay veterans who led the parade carrying flags of the city of Fresno, the state of California, the U.S. and the Pride movement.
Among the people perched curbside on Olive Avenue was Claude Torres of Madera, accompanied by Torres’ mother and a contingent of friends and supporters making their first visit to Fresno’s Pride Parade.
“I’m a nonbinary, bisexual person, I have an older gay brother, and my mom has never been to a Pride parade,” Torres said. “This is the closest one, and we decided to come and see Fresno’s Pride Parade for the first time.”
Torres has been to other Pride events in the San Francisco Bay Area, but said having one close to home in the more conservative central San Joaquin Valley carries special significance.
“It means the world, honestly. It’s so great to see that there is a safe space and celebration of queerness,” Torres said. “Especially when I look around and see all these queer youth and it makes me happy that there are role models in our community to basically show these kids, ‘We’re here, and it does get better, and we do grow up to be adults in a loving community.’”
“There are those of us who will welcome you with open arms,” Torres added.
After the parade, activities continued with a Pride Festival less than a mile away on the campus of Fresno City College. At least 90 organizations, vendors and businesses had booths providing information, refreshments, apparel and crafts. A beer garden and entertainment tent were also available for visitors.
This story was originally published June 4, 2022 at 11:35 AM.
