PRINCETON, NJ — After taking a hiatus during the pandemic, Princeton Pride Parade 2022 is back this year with an in-person event and after-party.
The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ) will be organizing the parade. Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka will be Parade Grand Marshal.
Muraoka is the proprietor of Hooper’s Store on “Sesame Street,” and recently won the GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Children’s Programming” for Sesame Street’s “Family Day” episode which introduced the first family to include two gay dads.
“I am beyond thrilled and honored to act as Grand Marshal of the BRCSJ Princeton Pride Parade. On Sesame Street we try to teach tolerance, acceptance, and love, and I am inspired by the mission and vision of all the good folks at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, who are teaching the same values,” Muraoka said in a statement. “Can’t wait to march with them and tell all our friends and fam how to get to Princeton Pride.”
In 2019, BRCSJ organized Princeton’s first Pride Parade with over 3,000 people in attendance. In 2020 and 2021, the organization held a virtual parade with over 25,000 viewers participating in events featuring Billy Porter, Tituss Burgess, Billie Jean King, Sam Sparro, Jill Sobule, Sampson McCormick, among others.
“We invite all to join us as our LGBTQIA community and their friends, allies, and families (chosen or otherwise) march, dance, roll, stroll, and sashay through the historic Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood to end up at the fabulous after-party at the Princeton Y”, said BRCSJ Chief Activist Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber.
“What better way to walk the walk (both literally and figuratively) of inclusivity and intersectionality than to bring together all of our beautifully diverse folx in Princeton and in the greater community.”
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Princeton Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street. The after-party will be held at the YMCA great field.
For more information on how to march, volunteer and participate, visit www.rustincenter.org