Pride walk celebrates LGBTQ+ community

from Manhasset Times 2023_06_23

by The Island 360

ROMANO EXCELS

www.oldworldqualitycorp.com

Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident

Old World Quality Corp.

Old World Quality

BY CAMERYN OAKES

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 nonproﬁt organization founded by local parents to support the local LGBTQ+ community.

“Be The Rainbow” written in chalk on Port Washington’s bay walk. (Photo by Cameryn Oakes)

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.

Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident Renovations, Roofing, Painting, Kitchens, Plumbing, Heating Conditioning, Custom Exterior Spaces,

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.

Rainbow renditions of the Port Washington Fire Department and Port Washington Police Department logos drawn on the bay walk. (Photo by Cameryn Oakes)

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.

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Old World Quality Corp.

Vinny Muldoon – Owner and Garden City Resident www.oldworldqualitycorp.com www.oldworldqualitycorp.com www.oldworldqualitycorp.com www.oldworldqualitycorp.com www.oldworldqualitycorp.com

Garden City Resident

Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden City Resident

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Vinny Muldoon - Owner and Garden

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We are a full service general contractor providing everything from small repairs to full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.

We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.

Custom Homes • Renovations • Extensions

We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter what size your project is.

We are Contractor everything repairs builds, attention what size

Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp

Office: (516) 741-8226

136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550

Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com

136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550

Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp

Roofing • Painting • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Masonry Mudrooms • Plumbing • Heating Air Conditioning Custom Mill Work • Exterior Spaces • MUCH MORE!

Instagram and Facebook: @Oldworldqualitycorp

Office: (516) 741-8226

Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com

There is no project

136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550

Email: Jenn@oldworldqualitycorp.com

136 Cherry Valley Ave, West Hempstead 11550

We are a full service General Contractor providing everything from small repairs through full house builds, with meticulous attention to detail no matter