Talking To: Cofounder of Babylon Pride Parade, In Its Second Year

BABYLON VILLAGE, NY— Last June, in the midst of the pandemic and nationwide protests, two Babylon Village residents decided it was time for an event they had talked about for a long time: a pride parade. Seven days later, over 750 people came to the first-ever Babylon Village Pride Parade.

This Sunday, the second pride parade will shut down Deer Park Ave. from 3 to 7 p.m.

Roman, the co-founder of the event along with Robert Mckeown, said the response was "heart-warming and eye-opening." Roman spent his earliest years in Babylon Village, before moving to California. Six years later he returned to live in Babylon, where he now works at local restaurant Molto Vino.

"When I moved here, I realized how many LGBTQ people lived here, how many LGBTQ business owners we have here and how many LGBTQ youth there are, and I just wanted them to feel celebrated."

Because of the pandemic, it was relatively easy for Roman and Mckeown to work out the logistics with the village, town and the mayor, who they say was supportive all along.

"We always had to go to Fire Island or New York City to celebrate pride," Roman said, "which I thought was crazy."

Robert Mckeown told Patch that he had talked about the idea for a while with Roman, after working together on the Babylon Village Pub Crawl. Mckeown brought his experience staging events with the village to the effort, and the whole event came to reality after only seven days.

"I didn't really expect such a turnout," Mckeown said. "There were young people crying, embracing, saying they finally felt fully embraced by the community."

The parade, now in its second year, will continue as a car parade. This year, more of the village will be shut down to traffic. Roman said that was their five-year goal, accomplished in only two.

"Last year we said the village needs a little sparkle, a little happiness, Black Lives Matters was happening and we wanted to keep celebrating minorities and the queer community."

Roman heard from nearby residents about what the event meant to them.

"I got messages from local queer families, saying I never thought living here all my life i never thought I'd see pride celebrated."

But Roman says he's not surprised that Babylon showed its support.

"I'm 31 now," he reflected.

"Babylon Village has always been welcoming to me, and living here made me only feel even more comfortable being myself."