Joyful Crowd Gathers For 3rd Annual Hamptons Pride Parade: Photos

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The 3rd Annual Hamptons Pride Parade brought thousands together in East Hampton Saturday, in a show of solidarity and love.

According to parade organizer Tom House, the event continues to grow each year, both in numbers and in meaningful impact.

"What a perfect day for a parade, and what a spectacular show of support for the East End's LGBTQ+ people from our local leaders, organizations, faith groups, schools, businesses, artists, musicians, cultural institutions, and social and performing arts centers," he said. "Each year, it gets bigger and better. To all who poured their hearts into this vitally important community event without any thought of material gain, our deepest gratitude; you know, as we do, that giving selflessly has many rich rewards. We intend to keep registration for the parade free, and we intend to continue as an all-volunteer organization. Onward with pure hearts!"

House thanked the event's sponsors and volunteers, "without which the first three Pride parades in the history of the Hamptons simply would not be. We need more volunteers, and we hope more of you will want to pitch in next year. We start organizing in January."

He asked all to mark their calendars for the Fourth Annual Hamptons Pride Parade, to be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

So many planned to attend the parade that the MTA Long Island Rail Road added an extra train Saturday to transport attendees.

Reflecting on the event that has come to mean so much, House said, before the event: "Our first parade in 2022, the first Pride parade in the history of the Hamptons, shocked everyone, as well over 1,000 people attended. Last year the turnout was even larger, and this year, the addition of the train will give people farther west, who might not be able to take the drive out or find a place to park once they get to East Hampton, an opportunity to take part in what has fast become one of the most-beloved and eagerly awaited events in the Hamptons community."

After the parade, a rally and celebration with D.J. Karin Ward took place in Herrick Park. The event also featured the Bridgehampton School's marimba band and Mila Tina, "the sensational Chilean-American percussionist," to greet marchers and revel with celebrants.

"Each year the participation becomes more broad and inclusive, and it is an absolute joyfest, a true grass-roots, pure-hearted embrace of the East End's LGBTQ+ people and their allies," House said.

House told Patch he was gratified that the MTA had put faith and trust in the Hamptons Pride group. "Just the fact that they realize that the Hamptons Pride Parade should have a special train means that they recognize the importance to the community — and the volume that's likely to attend," he said.

Seeing the parade blossom, he added, is "very deeply gratifying. I've seen firsthand how important it is to many communities on the East End. It's changing the climate of the East End."
He added, "The most important thing for me is that young people see how much support they have — so they are free to become whoever they are."

House added that those who would like to support Hamptons Pride, a federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity, can go to the donate page at HamptonsPride.org, or email HamptonsPrideInc@gmail.com.