SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramentan Paul Trisler stood with his arm over his boyfriend’s shoulder as the pair watched in awe as people of all sexual orientations, kids and dogs marched the streets of downtown Sacramento for the city’s 40th annual Pride Parade.
Thousands took part in the celebration of love in all forms.
Trisler said he remembers Sacramento's very first Pride Parade 40 years ago.
"The very first parade was very tentative… because we were all scared to death. We didn't know if we were going to get arrested by the cops or what was going to happen,” he said. “Look at us, we're all out here with marriage equality, everybody's happy, everybody's smiling. This is the best in the world.”
Trisler said over the years, a real sense of community began to emerge in Sacramento.
"Not only are we just a few guys and a few women. It's families. It's people hanging together and being a community -- something we've never had before,” he said.
Fellow Sacramentan Rachel Raymond recalls a similar feeling when she came out in the 1990s.
“There weren't that many people showing up to be in the parade because there was fear of being outed. So to see people unafraid, to see our community being out and loud -- it’s awesome," Raymond said.
Carolanne Beeson attended the parade Sunday. She said the outpouring of support could “make people who might still be in the closet be like ‘you know what? There's people here who have our backs. We don't have to stay in the closet. We can be ourselves.’”
But Sacramento Pride wasn’t without controversy. A protest at the event blocked a number of people from entering on Sunday. The protest followed a series of decisions by the LGBT Community Center about police marching in uniform at the event. The Sacramento Police Department walked in the parade after all.
"It's just really overwhelming and brings tears to my eyes because it's just so inclusive of everybody. These huge corporations willing to march with us means a lot to me," said Ron Tuscano, Trisler's boyfriend.