Pride Month 2018: Five of the most amazing moments, from proposals to puppy parades

A video of ‘Proud Dads’ surprising their children for Dublin Pride has gone viral

EMT Trudy Bermudez and paramedic Tayreen Bonilla of New York City Fire Department get engaged at the annual Pride Parade on June 24, 2018 in New York City (Getty Images)

This year’s Pride Month has seen a multitude of rainbow-filled events taking place across the world in celebration of the LGBT+ community.

While the festivities are far from over, with London Pride scheduled for Saturday 7 July, there have been a number of incredible standout moments from the parades so far.

A group of bus drivers from Dublin has gone viral for attending the city’s parade in the ‘Dublin Bus’ with their children, while two members of the New York City Fire Department made headlines for becoming engaged during the Big Apple’s Pride march.

Here are five of the most amazing moments from the global array of Pride parades:

1. The “Proud Dads”

Dublin Pride took place on Saturday 30 June, 25 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in the Republic of Ireland.

A group of fathers who work for the city’s main bus company decided to show their support for their children by attending the parade alongside them.

A video that shows the “Proud Dads” surprising their kids while dressed in rainbow-coloured clothing and accessories has gone viral, with many praising the fathers for their show of unconditional love.

2. The heartfelt apology

While Pride parades are a place of love, they are also often protested against by those spewing judgement and prejudice.

In Manila in the Philippines, a group of Christians decided to profess their support by apologising for the way in which they had previously regarded the LGBT+ community.

They attended the parade with a variety of signs, such as one that read: “I’m sorry for hiding behind religion when really I was just scared,” and another which said: “Jesus didn’t turn people away, neither do we.”

3. The marriage proposal

Members of the New York City Fire Department cheer as EMT Trudy Bermudez and paramedic Tayreen Bonilla get engaged at the annual Pride Parade on June 24, 2018 in New York City (Getty Images)

New York City’s Pride parade was attended by an assortment of notable individuals, including Grand Marshal and tennis legend Billie Jean King, gun control activist Emma González and superstar Lady Gaga.

The occasion was the perfect opportunity for NYC Fire Department first responder Trudy Bermudez to propose to her girlfriend, paramedic Tayreen Bonilla, much to the delight of their surrounding colleagues.

“We were just walking, and the energy was phenomenal with the supporters around, and the meaning behind everything,” Bermudez told NBC News.

4. The history-making event

Kakuma is a large refugee camp in Kenya, which is home to approximately 200 individuals who identify as LGBT+, according to Gay Star News.

This year the camp held its first official Pride event, having previously had to do so in secret for fear of putting their lives at risk.

“We have been at refugee day celebrations as LGBT+ refugees in the past but without being clear that it’s also Pride celebrations due to the fear of threats and intimidation from homophobes and heterosexual refugees,” said Mbazira Moses, executive director of Rainbow Flag Kakuma.

“But in Kakuma camp, this year with courage and security promised by security organisations we decided to be clear with an aim of letting the people around the camp know that we are of no harm, we are human like any of them and also to promote unity amongst us as LGBT+ refugees.”

5. The puppy parade

Many have taken their Pride celebrations to the next level by including their dogs in their frivolities.

As Pride Month has progressed throughout June, numerous people have shared photos of their canine pals on social media dressed in rainbow-coloured bow ties, hats, capes and even fairy wings.

Simply take a look at this thread from some of the best examples of dogs spreading joy at Pride parades.