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Posted On: July 7th 2025, 12:12 pm
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I’ve been struggling to feel patriotic and my experience at the Warren 4th of July parade changed that.
I was invited by my friend and incredible queer artist, @madiganl_123 to join her on a float she was making for the Warren parade to sing two of her original songs about queer joy and resistance.
This experience restored my faith in this country and to me showed how we build a broad coalition to fight back. Despite the very obvious protest overtones it also was a celebration. A celebration of a country where a float full of young women can support their friend singing pride songs in front of 5000 people and a fighter jet flyover. A country where queer joy can be out in the open, patriotic and a true celebration of freedom. We have to show up, not just at protests and shouting in the internet but at institutions like patriotic parades and every election from local dog catcher to president.
A stark reminder was right behind our float was the local Republicans. And with all this joy in the parade when they walked by the crowd went silent. It was reminiscent of the squeaky tanks at DJT’s birthday parade. These people just don’t have any joy to give.
The lesson I learned is the rallying cry of the protests of the 60s was peace and love. Back then they met hate with joy, oppression with art and spurred one of the most creative periods in our nations history and massively expanded civil rights. If we are going to beat fascism, we have to show the world how much more fun and joyful it is to join us, and that is what I experienced at the Warren Parade.
I thank @madiganl_123 for her courage, and her incredible voice. With her permission I may share a clip of her incredible songs in the next few days because y’all need to hear it! 🏳️🌈🪩🇺🇸
I was invited by my friend and incredible queer artist, @madiganl_123 to join her on a float she was making for the Warren parade to sing two of her original songs about queer joy and resistance.
This experience restored my faith in this country and to me showed how we build a broad coalition to fight back. Despite the very obvious protest overtones it also was a celebration. A celebration of a country where a float full of young women can support their friend singing pride songs in front of 5000 people and a fighter jet flyover. A country where queer joy can be out in the open, patriotic and a true celebration of freedom. We have to show up, not just at protests and shouting in the internet but at institutions like patriotic parades and every election from local dog catcher to president.
A stark reminder was right behind our float was the local Republicans. And with all this joy in the parade when they walked by the crowd went silent. It was reminiscent of the squeaky tanks at DJT’s birthday parade. These people just don’t have any joy to give.
The lesson I learned is the rallying cry of the protests of the 60s was peace and love. Back then they met hate with joy, oppression with art and spurred one of the most creative periods in our nations history and massively expanded civil rights. If we are going to beat fascism, we have to show the world how much more fun and joyful it is to join us, and that is what I experienced at the Warren Parade.
I thank @madiganl_123 for her courage, and her incredible voice. With her permission I may share a clip of her incredible songs in the next few days because y’all need to hear it! 🏳️🌈🪩🇺🇸
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