Gallery: Pride draws hundreds to downtown Chandler

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

The Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were among the many represented groups and organizations at Chandler Pride this year.

The event, held on the somewhat rainy afternoon and evening of Nov. 15, drew in everyone from celebrators to local LGBTQIA-friendly businesses, churches and advocacy organizations to elected officials and candidates.

LLL Reptile had a manager on-site showing snakes, lizards and other creatures. Cheer Arizona performed again this year, encouraging everyone to be or become allies, as did some local musicians.

Elected officials, such as state Rep. Stacey Travers and Sen. Mitzi Epstein, were there, along with Chandler City Council members Angel Encinas, Jane Poston and Matt Orlando. Some spoke briefly.

Orlando and Congressional District 4 candidate Elizabeth Lee were among those getting petition signatures and talking issues with participants.

The Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose stated description is an “order of 21st-century queer and trans nuns dedicated to the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt,” had at least a pair of representatives in attendance.

Chandler Pride has been held in November for at least the past few years, as the traditional pride month of June is among the hottest, most dangerous times to be outdoors or holding special events in Arizona.

Phoenix Pride, probably the largest annual such set of events in Arizona, is held in October.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as those meet our  Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.