Philly Pride Celebrated Despite Orlando Tragedy

Philadelphia has Pride, and nothing was going to stop the city from celebrating it this weekend – including the horrific mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida that left 50 people dead, 54 injured, and America’s LGBT community reeling from the after-effects of hate and terrorism. The City of Brotherly Love is home to one of the nation’s oldest and largest Pride celebrations, and the consensus seemed to be that it was more important than ever to get out there and put on a strong showing as the city’s LGBT community and allies came together this weekend.

Police keep a watchful eye over the proceedings at Philly Pride this weekend. (NBC)

Police made it conspicuous that they were a stronger presence than normal at Sunday’s festivities. A spokesperson explained that the police wanted people to see them out and about, to feel safer.

Philly’s Pride Parade and Festival began at 11:30 AM in Center City and continued onward to Penn’s Landing.

The shooting in Orlando took place at the Pulse nightclub, which was celebrating a Latin-themed dance night. The shooter, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, was killed in a shootout with police. Mateen had legally purchased two assault weapons in the days before the attack, igniting a national debate about America’s gun control policies. The shooting is being treated as a hate crime and an act of terrorism, as Mateen had allegedly sworn his allegiance to ISIS and had reacted angrily in the near past to the sight of two men kissing. His ex-wife described him as angry and abusive.

“This is Philadelphia. Philadelphia is the number one city of LGBT pride in the nation,” Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal told Lattanzio. “Philadelphia is the most LGBT friendly city in America. Do I see problems in Philadelphia? Absolutely not.”