Backlash won't stop Mayor Castro from joining in Gay Pride Parade
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Despite the recent kerfuffle brought about by a Christian radio host, the July 4 Gay Pride Parade will still march down North Main Avenue with Mayor Julián Castro at the helm.
Castro agreed to be grand marshal of the parade during his campaign for office. This is not the first time a high-profile city figure has served as grand marshal for the parade. Police Chief William McManus served as grand marshal in 2007. Castro said that since announcing his plans to be grand marshal, the mayor's office has received both positive and negative phone calls and e-mails.
The backlash was, in part, due to a letter-writing campaign spurred by KSLR Radio's conservative Christian host Adam McManus, as reported in the San Antonio Express-News.
“Julián Castro has shamed San Antonio by agreeing to serve as grand marshal of this homosexual parade,” the radio host told the Express-News. “There's nothing to be proud of when you participate in behavior that God described as an abomination.”
But Castro sees the matter quite differently and continues to stand behind his decision to serve as grand marshal.
“I knew that, in doing that, in some quarters that would be somewhat controversial. But the way I look at it is this: I represent all of San Antonio, every single San Antonian,” Castro said in a June 15 interview. “More than anything else, I respect everyone's opinion. That's part of representative democracy. But I believe, at the end of the day, that it's my duty to represent the entire city, and I believe that's what I'm doing by being in that parade. I've been in the holiday parade; I've been in the Spurs parade, the Diez y Seis parade, the veterans' parade. I'm sure I'll be in many other parades during my time in office. We're going to make sure that the mayor of San Antonio represents the entire city.”
Randy Cunniff, chairman of the board for Gay Pride SA, which is organizing the event, said he is not concerned about the potential for protestors at this year's event. Cunniff also co-owns the Heat nightclub and Luther's Cafe along North Main's gay district, known as The Strip.
“When we've had (the parade) before, like when Chief McManus came, we had a small group that protested, but it didn't last very long,” Cunniff said.
Last year, Cunniff said about 7,000 people joined in or watched the event and he expects at least 10,000 to show up this year.
The block party along the 1400 and 1500 blocks of North Main will begin at 3 p.m. and continue until midnight. The party will include food and beer vendors, drag shows and other performers and will cost $3 for entry. The proceeds benefit nonprofit organizations.
Beginning at 9 p.m., the parade will travel south from the 1800 block of North Main to Crockett Park. Attendees can watch the parade free from the street.
“The parade is a really fun way for everyone to show their colors, so to speak,” Cunniff said.
Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA
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