I received a phone call from my friend Ed, with whom we founded the Eastern Iowa Chapter of Veterans for Peace. He wondered if I was going to walk in the Iowa City Pride Parade. I bought a new t-shirt for the occasion although had planned to walk with the Democrats. I could switch, so I did.

There were six of us carrying our Veterans for Peace banner which said on one side, “No Iran War.” While I was concerned we didn’t register for the parade, they said, “We do this every year. We just get in line.”

The person in the photo above dropped his flag from the pole, and we couldn’t get his attention. One of our members took it and flew it upside down as a symbol of political dissent. Eventually we caught the owner’s attention and returned the flag.

Parades are a chance to see elected officials. The Mayor of Iowa City stopped by to say hello. State Senator Zach Wahls was there with a baby buggy, the first time I saw him since the primary election. State Representative Elinor Levin donned special garb for the event, including a bejeweled forehead. She also sang in the Quire.

Self-described revolutionary historian, journalist, speaker, and author Paul Street was on hand and offered a three and a half minute video report from what he described as the “super woke PRIDE parade.” View the video on his substack. There was some dude carrying a sign like those used by the Westboro Baptist Church to protest at LGBTQ+ events and pride parades. He was in one of the most crowded spaces on the parade route and no one was bothering him. He didn’t bother us either. There was a little negativity at the parade, but that didn’t matter to most present. As Street said in his video, everyone (except maybe him and the guy from Westboro) seemed “happy, happy.”

After finishing the parade, I walked the parade route backwards to experience the crowded streets. They were as crowded as I’ve ever seen them. Everyone seemed so young.

I passed the corner where we married in 1982. The building that remains looks like the old church, yet it changed dramatically. Eventually I found my way back to the parking ramp and figured out how to buy back my car.

These are some of the things we do in the Midwest to become allies to our LGBTQ+ friends and family. Walking in a parade is not much, yet it is important to giving our support. Side bonus: it was a great afternoon for a walk with long-time friends.