Marching With “Defiant Joy” at the 35th Annual Long Island Pride Parade
On Sunday, June 8, supporters from the Citizens Options Unlimited community lined up behind the PrideAbility banner on Gerard Avenue in Huntington to march in the 35th Annual Long Island Pride Parade.
“I’m marching because I’m gay and I support everyone who is LGBT,” said John Ginther, a self-advocate also known as DJ Jumpin’ Johnny G who is supported by Self-Direction at Citizens. “I’m out here for Pride because I want to celebrate who we are.”
During the march, John connected with paradegoers by taking selfies and saying hello to people along the parade route. Fellow marchers handed out Pride flags, while leading the chant: “PrideAbility is our name, Equality is our game.”
The theme of this year’s parade was Defiant Joy. According to the LGBT Network, which produces the annual Long Island Pride event, the parade was denied a permit 35 years ago.
“We defied. We celebrated. And we never stopped,” the Long Island Pride website stated.
Defiant Joy is defined by showing up, dancing, and celebrating in the face of opposition.
“I love the Defiant Joy theme, because I think that’s the best approach to all of this,” said Christopher M. Polistena, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Services at Citizens Options Unlimited and Co-Advisor of PrideAbility. “To bring everyone together and to get our rights recognized and our equality recognized.”
PrideAbility proudly provides a space for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community to build connections, express themselves, and learn about LGBTQIA+ and disability issues.
“Everyone is so accepting, which is what is so lovely about PrideAbility,” said Jaime Crispin, Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement for Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) and Co-Advisor of PrideAbility. “It’s a very open group.”
Interested in getting involved with PrideAbility? Email cpolistena@citizens-inc.org.