OKC Thunder display Pride and unity during annual Oklahoma City parade and street festival
By Alex Mcewen
The OKC Thunder took part in the annual Pride Parade in Oklahoma City over the weekend. Rumble the Bison, and company helped spread love during the event.
Despite the intense heat, along with a different day and start time the masses; still showed up showed out in Oklahoma City to celebrate Pride. The entire OKC Thunder crew was on hand to spread love and unity, including Rumble the Bison, The Drummers, Storm Chasers, Thunder Girls, analyst Michael Cage, and GM Sam Presti, plus many more.
Rumble stood atop his bus, getting the crowd hyped. The Drummers rode in the back of a pickup truck. Which, was fully wrapped in a Thunder logo. The rest of the group walked alongside both vehicles donning coordinating t-shirts, featuring the word Unity, written in rainbow font and a small blue Thunder logo. In addition to walking and waving, the bunch tossed out tie-dye bandannas and rainbow leis.
Happy Pride
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I’ve been in my share of parades, but none more crowded than @okcpridefest today. Rachel & I walked with the @okcthunder, who were out in force. #1OKC pic.twitter.com/MTtCjW6d29
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) June 22, 2019
About the Festivities and Pride
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Pride celebrates the LGBTQ community; the official LGBTQ flag features all five colors of the rainbow. Hence, the abundance of colors seen throughout the parade above. The Pride festival began in Oklahoma City 32 years ago, with a small block party. Since then, the event has grown each year, the 2019 parade included over 100 floats. The route ran through the historical 39th Street District.
2019 marked the first year the Thunder participated in the event. Their involvement was a welcomed sight; it would be wonderful to see them become a staple at the annual event. This was also the first instance where Oklahoma City officially recognized the week of June 22, as Pride Week. Nationally speaking the entire month of June is observed as Pride Month.
The magnitude in which Pride has grown in Oklahoma City is truly a beautiful sight. It shows tremendous growth for the city and state as a whole.
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Thank you to my cousin Dax and the YWCA for allotting me the opportunity to walk in the parade. Partaking in the event is an emotionally beautiful experience that I cherish deeply, Happy Pride.