Thousands of Alaskans attend Equality Parade during Pride week

All week, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have been celebrating PrideFest week.

The week culminated in an Equality Parade, drawing thousands of Alaskans to downtown Anchorage on Saturday.

Susan Tow, Co-Chairperson for the event said the parade has grown significantly since its beginning.

"Anchorage pride, it started out with about 14 individuals marching in the streets with bags over their head and as you see today nobody has a bag over their head and that's a beautiful thing," Tow said.

For parade participants like Peter Noble, it's about celebrating diversity.

"There's no judging, no stereotypes and people are just free to be who they are just to have fun that's always a good atmosphere that's what summer's about," Noble said.

Each of the 50 groups and floats carried messages of solidarity.

Tony Gregston, who walked in the parade with his husband of two years said it's an event he attends for unity.

"It's about unity and one of the things like I say is 'love is love' and we're all important," Gregston said.

Similar to past years, a handful of protesters attempted to vocalize messages in opposition, but were met with responses of drumming and flags.

Despite a clash in views coming to a head, parade participants said the main message behind the event remains the same.

Cody Frazier "Freeza D'Lust" said it's a welcoming event.

"I wanted to be celebrating with the community, that's really what it is that's all it's about for us just embracing showing everyone who we are just embracing ourselves," Frazier said.

It's a gathering 40 years in the making,organizers said is focused on finding unity.

Assemblymen Chris Constant and Felix Riviera read this year's proclamation at the Pride Festival following the parade, recognizing Anchorage PrideFest week as has been the tradition for many years.