SAN ANTONIO – With visions of last month’s Orlando massacre still fresh in the minds of many, Saturday’s Gay Pride Festival and Parade just north of downtown will see increased vigilance at Crockett Park and along the parade route.
In a statement, a spokesman for San Antonio olice said although there are no threats locally, “We will definitely have a presence there.”
They will be joining Bexar County sheriff’s deputies, San Antonio Park Police officers and private security.
“We have those four different layers for everybody’s safety and concern,” said Phillip Barcena, president of Pride San Antonio.
However, James Poindexter, secretary for the board of directors of Pride San Antonio, said, “No, no, we’re not worried.”
Barcena agreed, “The community is not really worried. I think the community is coming out in full force.”
They said perhaps due in part to what occurred in Orlando, they’re seeing even more support for what is expected to be their largest-ever Gay Pride event.
“We have so many people that have an outpouring of love for what we’re doing here,” Barcena said. “They’re also ready to show their acceptance and support for the LGBTQ community of San Antonio.”
Poindexter said, “We have more vendors than we’ve ever had before, more parade entries than we’ve had before.”
They said it’s a far cry from the group’s first parade in 2004.
“It was about three blocks long. It had 10 entries and lasted 10 minutes,” Barcena said.
He said Saturday’s night parade, starting at 9 p.m., is over 1/2 mile long with 90 entries and should take 1 1/2 hours.
During the parade, emcees will call for a moment of silence along the parade route in memory of the Orlando victims.
The parade will top off the festival in Crockett Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a wide assortment of food booths and other vendors, as well as music and entertainment.
Poindexter said the $10 admission will benefit Fiesta Youth GALA of San Antonio, Beat AIDS, the LGBTQ Alliance at Texas A&M San Antonio, and SNAP, the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program.