Shine On: Pride Celebrations in Los Angeles, D.C., And Beyond Show The Strength Of The LGBT Community

We honored the fallen and proved love was stronger than hate.
From: NewNowNext

 We were all heartbroken Sunday morning when news broke that 50 people had been murdered and scores more wounded in a mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub.

The attack happened during Pride season but around the world LGBT celebrations went on as planned—and we and our allies proved we were stronger than hate.

 “Of course we are grieving and angry and we need to express that,” said the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lorri L. Jean at the outset of L.A. Pride.

“We also need to make sure we don’t allow this hateful incident to silence us.”

And that they did, as hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Santa Monica Boulevard for the annual procession, some wearing black armbands in memory of those who died.

 Logo was there, with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Morgan McMichaels and Mariah Balenciaga.

“With thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters in Orlando in this terrible tragedy, we must come together strong and as family,” Mariah told NewNowNext.

“We are a community of strength, love and understanding. We will triumph over hate every time. In this month of Pride it is a bittersweet time for us but always know we never stand alone.”

 Also there were sisters Sara and Erin Foster of VH1’s Barely Famous.

 As was the cast of Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

 And Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

 Sunday was also Philadelphia Pride, and the City of Brotherly Love did not disappoint. The mood was celebratory in the Gayborhood.

 Though the slain were not forgotten, as Austin Ellis of the Metropolitan Community Church carried a cross with a sign in memory of the victims.

 Washington, DC, played host to Capital Pride Festival on Sunday, when Meghan Trainor performed for a roaring crowd.

Fellow headliner Charlie Puth dedicated “See You Again” to the city of Orlando and those lost in the attack on Pulse nightclub.

Had so much fun at @capitalpridedc thank you for having us! So glad I finally got to see char char again..great performance @charlieputh !.. And finally thank you to that BEAUTIFUL crowd for helping me sing for Orlando tonight! ❤️💛💚💙💜 #PrayForOrlando #DCPride #loveyourself

A photo posted by Meghan Trainor (@meghan_trainor) on Jun 12, 2016 at 6:42pm PDT

At 1 pm, a moment of silence was observed on the Capitol Stage along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Pride is bravery. Love to Orlando. @CapitalPrideDC pic.twitter.com/U0Du0G8gqS

— DCHomos (@DCHomos) June 12, 2016

Across the Atlantic, it was also time for Kiev Pride, where more than 700 LGBT activists carried placards reading “Human rights comes first” and “minority rights are human rights.”

It was the third-ever Pride event in the city, and the first in the city center, prompting an unprecedented police presence of several thousand officers and National Guard members along the route—though the entire march lasted only 20 minutes.

While no violence was reported, right-wing nationalists held a counter demonstration in the street, and several were arrested by police.