Community comes together at annual Pride Parade

SALISBURY, Md. – Year after year, people from all over the Eastern Shore come to Salisbury to celebrate LGBTQ Pride.

Executive director of Salisbury PFLAG, Mark DeLancey, said that each year, the event marks a new milestone.

“The community is here, allys are here, everyone’s pulling together to make sure it’s a great event, and it’s a wonderful thing to be able to have for the community,” DeLancey said.

Event organizers wanted to create an environment where everyone could feel accepted.

Rosie Bean, with the Salisbury Art Space, said encouraging everyone who attended the parade, and offering supportive resources to those in need, helps strengthen the LGBTQ community.

“So many of us are struggling and don’t have family or good connections, and when we come here, you feel like you’re part of a big group,” Bean said.

With a message of unity, DeLancey said the Pride Parade is the time to come together, because there’s power in numbers.

“We can’t stand alone if we don’t stand together,” DeLancey said. “It’s really important to make sure that each of us are highlighted in our own strengths and helped and supported in our weaknesses, so it’s a good way to make sure that we’re all doing that together.”

Also at the parade, local organizations offered up helpful resources to attendees.

Bayshore Community Counseling services educated people on the alcohol and drug resources they offer.

The organization plans to partner with different schools next academic year to help educate local youth and teens. Peer leader, Anthony Price, said they’re looking forward to extending their outreach.

“We try to implement them into our colleges, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, to prevent people my age, younger, and older from getting into certain issues,” Price said.

To find out more about their mission, you can visit their Instagram @BayShoreSPF.