No two pride parade celebrations are alike. That’s what makes Pride Month such an exciting time of year. There are many different ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in June, whether you are attending Capital Pride, Baltimore Pride, or a smaller parade in your hometown.
This month, ELM Animator Ezra Pailer went to Sykesville, Maryland to partake in the town’s Pride Parade. Because Ezra grew up in Sykesville, this parade was especially meaningful.
“Over all the years, so much strength and creativity has been poured into what it means to love each other and ourselves and what it means to survive,” he shared. “It is so remarkably special to see the small town I grew up in joining us as we celebrate all of those things.”
Sykesville, Maryland has been a site of controversy in recent years. Just last year, the conservative Carroll County School Board banned Pride flags from being displayed on school property, sparking outcry throughout Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
As a video production company in Baltimore, we have close ties to the greater Maryland community. For this reason, we were thrilled to see the town Sykesville, Maryland celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through this parade.
The parade was a small but cheerful celebration, with rainbow art and sidewalk chalk adorning the windows of local businesses, as locals came together to celebrate. Musicians played under a tent, as Gay and Trans flags were prominently displayed throughout the town. For Ezra, the sight reaffirmed his love for the place he grew up.
Reflecting on the parade, Ezra said: “Walking through the downtown Pride Festival these last few years has been a warm reminder that in its own unique way, this town has always believed in me, too.”
