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“If you live your life in fear, then you become a victim in a sense.” “That’s why we’re out here - for equal rights and for people not to discriminate and kill each other senselessly like happened last night,” Marino said. “It’s a little scary, but I think it’s amazing… I think love will prevail.”Īddressing the crowd, parade emcee Bert Champagne said the hateful act in Orlando was done “to terrorize us, to undo all we have achieved in unity and love.”Īmong the marchers was Cory Marino, 27, of Forth Worth, Texas, who was in town for work but came out Sunday to show his support.ĭonning an orange tutu and blue tank top, Marino said it was important to celebrate gay pride while remembering the victims of the Orlando shooting.
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“We’re all staying,” Barker explained shortly before the parade started. James Howell, 20, of Indiana, was apprehended by Santa Monica police hours after the Orlando attack. “It’s scary but we just have to keep on marching forward and trying to show that we have love for everyone,” said Barker, a Pasadena City College student and LGBT ally.Īfter word spread that a man whose car was filled with explosive material and weapons had been headed to the LA Pride parade, the Netflix team was informed of the situation so that members could decide whether or not they wanted to leave, Barker said. Rachel Barker, 21, of Tujunga, who marched in the parade with friends on the Netflix team, said she wanted to cry about the “horrible” Orlando shooting. Edward Ramirez of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station said after the parade. The three-hour parade went smoothly and without incident, Lt. Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a statement that the department, which patrols West Hollywood, was in “a heightened state of situational awareness” and would remain vigilant. While many parade-goers were wary in light of recent events, several said they felt even more committed to the cause of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.