The Austin Pride Parade is  an event that gives full respect to those who are part of the LGBT community and by going to this event people are expressing their opinions and who they want to be. This special event  took place on Saturday, Aug. 27 on the streets of downtown Austin. The pride parade is meant to be respectful to all that are in the LGBT community.

Kevin Gillion, Spanish 2 teacher and a vocal supporter of the LGBT community,  brought students along to the Pride Parade for the fourth consecutive year.  They march independently of AISD, meaning they must raise the entry fee and spread awareness with no AISD support, but they have not faced difficulty with that so far.

“An average hurdle is simply raising the money to cover the parade entry cost, but we’ve managed fine.  Other than that, just getting the word out in only one week of school is always a challenge, but our core group is pretty good about networking and showing up,” Gillion said.

However, this is the first year Gillion noticed protesters at the parade holding hateful signs. He was disappointed to see a protest at such a joyous event, but the thousands cheering in support of the parade drowned out the protest.

“People have a right to be wrong, and I have a right to think that they are turds,” Gillion said.

Freshmen Alex Osborn went with the AISD students and her girlfriend to the Pride Parade.

“I can be whoever I want to be, with people that are supportive,” Osborn said. “it’s nice to know I’m not alone.”

These supportive young people had a lot of fun at the pride parade.

“Everyone was really supportive, and there was a couple that was entirely naked, and they were covered in metallic paint,” Osborn said.