Albuquerque GLBT community celebrates with pride

Thousands of folks lined up on Route 66 to watch the 2011 Albuquerque Pride Parade. After breakfast at Mannies Cafe we grabbed a few pics to share the scene with you in this slideshow. And, before you start sending us nasty e-mails, we included pics of the protesters and bible thumpers because they were there and part of the story. The homophobes also were monitored by police and promptly dismissed by most everyone in the crowd for their bigotry and hate mongering.

Now it's off to NM Expo where organizers have set up a foam party, dance tent, and poetry slam at the main street festival.

Photo Slideshow from Albuquerque's Gay Pride Parade

For complete parade coverage, including videos, read our post below.


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Gay Pride Parade Rolls In Albuquerque

It didn't rain in Albuquerque on Saturday morning, but there were still thousands of rainbows flags flying during the city's Gay Pride parade.

The annual event, on Central (from Girard to the NM Expo), comes one day after President Barack Obama's Justice Department filed a federal court brief supporting the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). You can read the brief here.

People here say they feel betrayed by the President. They tell us they simply demand their civil rights be recognized by the state. They want the same "marriage" benefits straight people enjoy, including access to partner social security benefits, health insurance and property. Barbara Wold, the editor of Democracy for New Mexico, and her partner Mary Ellen Broderick have been together for 19 years. Wold posted her opinion on the federal action, writing "this really hurts."

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish led the parade and rode in the backseat of a convertible with one of her grandchildren. Her supporters walked the street urging people to support Denish's 2010 Democratic Gubernatorial primary campaign.


Albuquerque Mayor Chavez out on a Gay Pride Parade float. on 12seconds.tv

A domestic partnership bill failed in the NM Senate earlier this year. Thousands of people are expected to watch the parade. We saw many having breakfast before the parade at businesses along Central with patios. They had a great front row seat to the parade spectacle.

Rainbow flags flying in ABQ Gay Pride Parade on 12seconds.tv

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