An older man twerked nearly naked in front of children at the annual Twin Cities Pride parade Sunday as part of the weekend-long festival.
The man, who has not been identified, did the same performance during the Twin Cities Pride parade last year. According to Rebecca Brannon, an independent journalist, the man was twerking for “body positivity.”
A man in underwear twerks in front of a group of children at the Minneapolis pride parade https://t.co/DM21c1bOpK
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 25, 2023
In another video taken by Brannon, an onlooker of the parade can be seen with their breasts completely exposed, dancing to music coming from a parade float.
Person with breasts fully exposed dances as the Saloon Gay Bar float passes down Hennepin Ave for Pride.#Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/95JrS5jq3P
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 25, 2023
The parade was put on by Twin Cities Pride, whose 2023 sponsors included General Mills, Target, Mayo Clinic, Delta airlines, and more.
The North Star Kennel Club, a BDSM group, marched in the parade and featured men dressed in dog masks, collars, harnesses, and other BDSM gear. The club says it’s for “human-pups and pets, their handlers, and those that love them.”
“North Star Kennel Club” marches down Hennepin Ave in pup masks, leather harnesses and other BDSM apparel.#Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/0WCMlOgHaS
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 25, 2023
Children’s Minnesota participated in the parade, leading a chant of “protect trans kids.” Dr. Angela Goepferd, the director of the gender department at Children’s, was the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Other notable organizations in the parade included the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Target Corporation, which is in the midst of an ongoing boycott over its line of Pride merchandise that includes items geared towards children.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Angie Craig, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Gov. Tim Walz, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty all participated in the parade.
Anti-police groups organized a counter-protest ahead of the main event, protesting the presence of police, corporations, and “capitalism” at Pride events.
According to Brannon, the protesters caused “delays and disruptions” prior to the beginning of the parade.
“Hostile Queers” and BLM protesters with signs “Fuck Cops”and “Disarm Cops” and other anti-police rhetoric caused delays and disruptions before the start of the main parade today downtown. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/opcHgqF8tN
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 25, 2023
Paul Shoro, a street preacher who was asked to leave the Mall of America for wearing a shirt that said “Jesus saves,” was also at the parade. Shoro was wearing his “Jesus saves” shirt and held signs with John 15:9 on them. Shoro told Brannon that attendees of the parade broke his megaphone and threw ice cream at him.
First Lady Jill Biden also made an appearance during this weekend’s Pride events, speaking alongside Rep. Ilhan Omar on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the city of Minneapolis confirmed that there will be no fireworks display for Independence Day again this year. Instead, there will be a 20-minute “patriotic-themed laser light show set to music” at Boom Island Park on July 3.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
