My heart is still soaring.
Monterey Pride 2025 was nothing short of transcendent. To be named one of this year’s Grand Marshals - alongside the radiant force that is Glodean Champion - was the honor of a lifetime. Standing shoulder to shoulder with someone whose voice, presence, and activism have uplifted so many was humbling and electrifying all at once. I felt the weight of legacy and the lightness of joy in equal measure.
But what truly took my breath away was the Rainbow Connections phoenix float - a living, breathing symbol of queer resilience, transformation, and unapologetic joy. Watching it glide down the parade route, wings outstretched, flames of color trailing behind, I felt like we had conjured magic from chicken wire, glitter, and pure heart.
This wasn’t just a float. It was a love letter to our community.
The Dream Team None of this would have been possible without the most incredible constellation of collaborators. To my dear friends - Kacey Rodenbush, Aaron Anderson, Briden Cole Schueren, Madi Flading-Mayberry, Carlos Villagomez, Miguel Martinez, Brenda Scettrini-Saglio, Anne Ylvisaker, Angela Wilson, and Bernadette Renois - you are the architects of dreams. Your creativity, sweat, and spirit turned an idea into a spectacle.
To our powerhouse partners - Palenke Arts, Youth Arts Collective, The Epicenter of Monterey - and the phenomenal young people who poured their energy into every feather, flame, and flourish: you are the heartbeat of this movement. Your voices, your laughter, your vision - that’s what made this float soar.
A Look to Remember And let’s talk about that outfit! Domini Anne, you are a wizard. Thank you for designing a look that made me feel like I had stepped out of a queer myth - bold, radiant, and ready to rise. Every stitch told a story, and I wore it with pride.
A Day to Remember There’s something sacred about Pride. It’s protest and party, remembrance and rebirth. And this year, it felt like we were all rising together - out of the ashes of hardship, into a future lit by love and community.
To everyone who danced, marched, cheered, and celebrated with us: thank you. You made this day unforgettable.
Here’s to the phoenix in all of us. Here’s to queer joy. Here’s to Monterey Pride.
