With the pop of rainbow confetti, equipped with rainbow flags and clad in rainbow attire, dozens of children led the Be The Rainbow Pride Walk carrying a banner with hundreds of people following behind.
Community members gathered for Be The Rainbow’s third annual Pride Walk to celebrate Pride month and support the LGBTQ+ community Saturday.
Be The Rainbow is a Port Washington non-profit organization founded by local parents to support the local LGBTQ+ community.
Melanie D’Arrigo, co-founder of Be The Rainbow, said that this year’s Pride Walk was especially important due to recent anti-LGBTQ legislation and the increased danger for LGBTQ+ youth.
“Unfortunately we are living in a world, in a country, where the LGBTQ community is under attack,” D’Arrigo said.
She said Be The Rainbow wanted the Pride Walk to bring attention to those issues for Port Washington community members to be aware of the polarization.
D’Arrigo said this June was monumental as the Town of North Hempstead officially declared June as Pride Month. This was achieved through a resolution presented by Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, whom D’arrigo thanked.
D’Arrigo said that purpose of Be The Rainbow and the Pride Walk is to show that Port Washington is inclusive for everyone.
The day before the walk, locals and community organizations gathered to “chalk the walk,” writing encouraging words and drawing illustrations along the bay walk for the parade to follow the next day.
Phrases written on the walk included “Port loves you,” “Be The Rainbow” and “Love wins,” all written in rainbow colors. The Port Washington Fire Department and Port Washington Police Department drew their logos on the walk, adapting them to have rainbow-colored themes.
The ¾ three-quarter-mile walk started at Port Washington’s Bay Walk Park and concluded at the John Philip Sousa Memorial Bandshell in Sunset Park.
Many local organizations marched in the Pride Walk, including members of the Port Washington Fire Department, local government officials and the Congregational Church of Manhasset.
At the conclusion of the walk, attendees were greeted with a pride celebration that included performances by Sunshyne + the Foxx, a variety of vendors and food trucks.
Free rainbow sprinkle ice cream sandwiches from Smusht and Italian ice from Ralph’s Italian Ice were handed out to attendees.
As festivities continued throughout the remainder of the sunny Saturday afternoon, the park was filled with children’s laughter, dance music, elaborate performances and a display of rainbow in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
