Following the success of Babylon Village’s first-ever pride parade in 2020, a second has been announced for June 6, 2021.

-Photo Credit: Babylon Village Pride Parade, 2020 — *-Photo Credit:* *Babylon Village Pride Parade, 2020*

This spectacular event, which will close down the village to accommodate a parade of cars as well as plenty of performers, artists, and LGBTQ+ supporters, will include sizable involvement both from local vendors as well as Long Island residents.

The parade was spearheaded by advocates Roman and Bob McKeown, Babylon Village locals. This project was a work of passion by the organizers, spurring community members, businesses, and especially members of the LGBTQ+ community into action and inspiring future events.

In our interview with Roman, they had this to say of the positive effects a local pride parade has: “People who lived here all their lives, I’m talking about generations, and being a part of the LGBTQ community, never thought that their hometown, Babylon Village, would do a pride event.” It is a gaining of perspective, they said, that was a large takeaway from the first parade.

June’s parade is meant to advocate for community, education, and tolerance. It also serves as a way for locals and members of the LGBTQ+ community to safely mingle and take part in the festivities. “Holding that torch high and keeping that spirit, that flame, that unity, that positivity… if we could just carry that out more as we progress throughout the year, then that’s mainly the goal,” said Roman.

The streets of Babylon Village will be closed from Babylon Burger Bar at 1 West Main St., all the way to Lily Flanagan’s at 345 Deer Park Ave. This closure will last until 7 p.m., during which parade-goers are encouraged to visit the many local businesses along the route in an effort to give back to the community.

On the topic of this village-wide closure, Roman expressed that a three-to-five-year plan was completely overcome in less than two. Thanks to the support of Mayor Mary Adams and plenty of other officials, the parade was able to get approval for a much-needed road closure. This will allow for greater participation among those along the route without having to worry about general traffic.

In the planning of such an involved event, several hurdles presented themselves, namely rules and regulations being in flux due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The rules were constantly changing in just the past 30 days,” said Roman, mentioning that while this did hamper certain creative plans, they would still be able to “present a Pride that’s going to be successful with the message and the community that Bob and I really want to portray going forward.”

While rules were ever-changing, a benefit came out of restrictions being lifted in the form of new sponsors. “There are sponsors now who have reached out, that maybe wouldn’t have reached out if the rules were still how they were even a week ago.” Notably, Northwell Health will take part in the event as a title sponsor.

The car parade is part of a village-wide celebration, and in closing down the village, the local government and many businesses in the area are saying that they stand with Pride’s message. “It would almost be like one of Babylon Village’s block parties… This way, we’re giving back to the businesses, we’re letting people be able to go out and mingle... but it is also giving back to the village that made this happen.”

-Logo Design By: The Long Island Wave

Notable entertainment that will be seen along the parade route includes performances by the locally-owned company Drag Queen Divas as well as plenty of other LGBTQ+ artists. The parade of decorated cars is expected to remain similar to last year’s numbers. Though the crowd may be larger than the first parade with vaccination numbers increasing. Safety, both from the pandemic as well as in general, is a top priority.

The event’s logo, pictured here, was created by The Long Island Wave for use by the Babylon Village Pride Parade.

Roman stated that they are open for future projects, but it is the Babylon Pride Parade that currently takes precedent. “Who would’ve thought that me coming back to Babylon... that this would happen. As of right now, this is my baby, literally my pride project.”

The Second Annual Babylon Pride Parade will start at 2 p.m. on June 6 along Deer Park Avenue. Parade-goers are encouraged to soak in the festivities as well as take part in local businesses. The event ends at 7 p.m.

You can stay up to date with the parade and Roman on their Instagram.