Friday, July 18, 2025
Pride on the Mile, Freeport’s first LGBTQ+ organization, came back to the Nautical Mile for the third consecutive year in celebration of Pride Month on Saturday.
The aim of The LGBTQ+-organized event, which was held outside at Taco Tuesdays on Woodcleft Avenue, was to spread acceptance and co-existence for the local LGBTQ+ communities, while celebrating Pride Month.
The Freeport event also commemorates the 56th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of violent confrontations between police and gay rights activists. This gave rise to the international gay rights movement and resulted in year-round programming with educational components, including National Coming Out Day and the Trans Day of Visibility, among others.
The Freeport event began with a few encouraging words from elected officials, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to start the day as well as their first-ever parade around 2 p.m.
The day’s vast lineup included a caravan featuring grand marshal Jules Rodriguez and T dance with DJ Bill Avenoso and Music through the decades, in a festival that was held across from Freeport Water Taxi & Tours. A Pride concert, hosted by Ruby Slay, featured She The People, Ava Lena, Ivy Stalls and Chosen Family Chorale. Porsche and Syn performed Dragaret, a witty production of the cabaret-style musical scene, and then an after-party was held.
Freeport resident Joseph Anthony Smith, a member of the LGBTQ+ communities, and Robyn Workman, president of Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center, co-founded Pride on the Mile, a safe space for fellow LGBTQ+ individuals in South Nassau.
“We hope to convey that everyone can be accepted,” Smith said. “And we can all kind of, you know, we can co-exist, we can share space, and we can celebrate together.”
Smith and Workman began planning this year’s event in October, and the Village of Freeport and the Town of Hempstead showed significant support for the celebration. The town donated a Showmobile stage for the event, and Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy participated in the event’s first-ever caravan march.
“Like so many others have found, The Nautical Mile is a perfect place for a celebration, a festival or a parade,” Kennedy said. “And Pride on the Mile did all three. We were happy to share in their celebration.”
Joseph Scianablo, a Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town supervisor, dropped by to support the LGBTQ+ communities. As a U.S. Marine combat veteran, retired NYPD officer and former prosecutor, he emphasized the importance of community unity and representation.
“I think it’s important when we lead by example and we show that everybody in the community is contributing valuable members,” Scianablo said, “not only to the community, but society and as global citizens. I think it’s very important that we show our support.”
Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, whose district includes Freeport, attended Pride on the Mile for the third year in a row to show solidarity against all kinds of hate, including antisemitism, islamophobia and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ communities.
“It shows that it’s not a small community,” Koslow said. “It shows that there are people who agree with the way people believe and feel.”
County Legislator Scott Davis emphasized the importance of this event and advocated for a diverse community.
“It’s important that we advocate for all different communities,” Davis said, “and our Pride on the Mile event is an important event because it shows that we care and that we represent all parts of the community, not just some parts of the community.”
While organizing the event, Smith said he faced certain challenges, including some hateful comments on social media. Smith and his husband, Jose Cuevas, responded respectfully and kindly to them, educating people about the event’s purpose.
However, most of the comments were very encouraging and motivating for the organizers, Smith said.
“It’s been very supportive, very community-driven,” Smith said. “And we’ve been very encouraged this year, especially, you know, when considering all of the anti-LGBTQ legislation that’s going around, the kind of anti-trans rhetoric that’s also going around as well.”
People who are not themselves part of the LGBTQ+ communities but who serve as allies that respect and advocate for LGBTQ+ people and their rights were also on hand to show their support.
The third annual Pride on the mile Festival was the best one yet,” said co-founder and owner of Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center on the Nautical Mile Robyn Workman over text message. “Our first annual parade was exciting and brought an extra special touch. The whole day was just glorious. Looking forward to next year’s being bigger and even more exciting”
