It’s 9:43 a.m. Saturday, June 20, and the participants of the 2009 Sacramento Pride Parade are still stationary; onlookers begin to gather on L Street alongside Capitol Park. Winding her way through the various spectators, Sacramento native Rose Brun passes out flowers.

“I’ve been doing this since 1974,” she says, doling out a cala lily, “When I was younger, friends lost their jobs by being gay, but every year it gets better. Stuff like this brings us together. We need to break down barriers. ”

Breaking down barriers—a lot of balloons, music, dancing and good vibrations—seemed to be one of the parade’s objectives as it made its way from L Street through the downtown district to Sacramento Pride Festival’s Southside Park location.

Among the marchers were Sacramento City Unified School District’s Vice President Patrick Kennedy, Miss Gay Rodeo 2009, Empress XXXV of the Court of the Great Northwestern Imperial Empire, Miss Precious Taylor’d Cargo, California Faith for Equality and Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce. The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and a group of sash-sporting dancers from Dancing with Pride kept energy high with spirited performances. The procession culminated at Southside Park with lots of cheer and goodwill from the crowd waiting to welcome them inside the rainbow-ballooned arches.

This year’s festival featured an alcohol-and tobacco-free area with Youth Pride Zone. The safe Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Questioning Intersex space included activities like bungee runs, a dunk tank and a youth performance stage. The day-long celebration also included three separate stages, a beer garden for the 21 and over and a classic car show. Event-goers could stroll along the Southside Park Pond, stop at various booths and receive free goods like waters, popsicles and food and beauty coupons from Midtown businesses.

The main stage included tented seating where audience members watched musical performances such as A Church of all Gospel Choir, The Verve and the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. Cheer San Francisco and Sacramento Sirens Cheer Elite got the crowds excited with high-flying stunts and lively dance routines.

The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center event was backed by quite a few big sponsors such as Outword Magazine, Ikea, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and Barefoot Wine. The Wells Fargo tent handed out rainbow leis that added even more brilliance to the colorful atmosphere.

The vibrant and stimulating entertainment provided a complementary backdrop to the true stars of the festival: the community. Sacramento resident and veteran PRIDE attendee Nastscha Storm talked about her favorite part of Pride: “I like all the people. I get to see all my friends again. I posted on my MySpace ‘queers wanted’ because I like the term queer. Everybody, if you’re queer, you’re probably my friend, so get over here.”

Even first-time Pride goers connected with the ubiquitous feeling of acceptance and tolerance.

“I’m having a great time,” said first timer and Folsom resident Alexandra Boirasky. “I think it’s great that the community is supporting all people, not just straight people. I think it says Sacramento is ready to accept all and moving on to be a more cosmopolitan, diverse city.”

Having completed her 2007-2008 reign as Most Imperial Majesty Empress XXXIV, mainstage hostess Deneka Ashely St. James reflected on the 2009 Pride Festival’s turnout: “It says that we are committed, that we stick together, that we take care of one another and that we embrace each other fully,” St. James said.

“Gay Sacramento is in. Just the amount of straight people here; the brothers, fathers, sisters that come out and support the gay members of their family show that we embrace one another and love one another,” added St. James.