Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Trans folx, allies and all and in between took to the streets of Eureka this afternoon to celebrate the second annual Redwood Pride Night. They may not have a football team to play for anymore, but the Marching Lumberjacks led the parade through the heart of Old Town. No idea the exact number of attendees, but there sure were well over 100 people marching through the streets. 

“These events are important because they bring awareness and visibility,” said Allee Garry, an attendee at the march. “It gets people from the campus and community involved.”

Allee Garry, K Garry and Mike Prestin

Also in attendance was Sister Fawn D’Amen with the Eureka Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. 

“We are celebrating the diversity of our community,” D’Amen told the Outpost. “It is important now because our country is really diverse and it is important that everyone is able to express themselves.”

Most Pride marches happen in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City where police stormed an underground nightclub frequented by members of the LGBTQ community. The raid was violent and the LGBTQ community fought back against an oppressive police force. The raid and its subsequent pushback was a catalyst for the Gay Rights movement and helped usher in the acceptance of the LGBTQ community.