SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Together Again Central New York Pride Parade and Festival returned to Syracuse.

“Oh my gosh, we are so excited to be here, to see this many people turn out,” said Sora Iriye, member of CirqOvation circus group.

“I wanted to bring a Big Bang back, so I dressed all up this year to be able to celebrate me being trans, out and proud, not hiding,” said Justice Goncalves, parade participant.

Recent Tully high school graduate, Tyler Johnson, who faced controversy at his high school when it came to him speaking out about his experience on coming out, was the grand marshal for the parade this year.

“The past six months at my high school have been really difficult,” said Johnson. “It feels really good to know that I have such a great support system behind me to where I’m able to sit here and lead this parade and be a light for our LGBTQ+ community in Central New York.”

After the recent decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, people say it’s important to stand together and support one another.

“When one group becomes unsafe, we all become unsafe,” said Iriye. “So we just have to keep on fighting for each other and standing with each other.”