HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Tampa Pride 2023 Diversity Parade was held on March 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Ybor City.
The parade went east from the corner of Nuccio Parkway and 7th Avenue, down 7th Avenue to 20th Street. Again, thousand upon thousands took to the streets to celebrate pride and LGBTQ+.
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Thousands of people walked, roller-bladed, and danced down 7th Avenue in Ybor City for the 2023 Tampa Pride Diversity Parade.
It's a day that means a little more to some.
"All of us are part of the LGBTQ+ community... But it's really just supporting the community because there's a lot of things that the LGBTQ community faces and this just shows that we're all just here to support each other," Tianna Couey, parade-goer, said.
"For me personally my godbrother was gay and I'm honoring him and his memory," Elizabeth Moore, parade-goer, said.
From bead throwing to signs that read 'pride and joy' people attending the parade told us it's the support from the community that makes this parade so special.
"It's awesome, actually. You can't get that in a lot of places and as you can see this is one of those places you can get that wonderful support from family and friends and you know the whole the community," Keri Wells, parade-goer, explained.
While there in support of Tampa Pride the decked out floats were the stars of the show for some.
"The floats, I really think they're cool. I like the pirate one! I like the beads and I like the candy," Julian Olivera, parade-goer, explained.
One couple after nearly two decades together decided it was the time to seal the deal during the Love is Love ceremony.
"We're feeling really nervous but, after 19 years that we've been together, we finally decided enough was enough procrastinating!" Steve Weinlein and Tim Schmidt explained.
Weinlein and Schmidt said this experience is unlike any other while surrounded by so much love and pride.
"That's really special. It's really nice to have the community you know support pride in this way and this is really a unique opportunity for us to get married," Weinlein and Schmidt said.
The fun continued after the parade with events going into the night to finish out Tampa Pride.
