Thursday, July 10, 2025
After rain forced a postponement of Rockville Centre’s annual Pride Caravan, organizers and community members regrouped for a spirited celebration that combined visibility, unity and a shared message of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Originally slated for June 14, the event was rescheduled due to heavy rain. Despite the disruption, the turnout remained strong, co-organizers Lori Dunne and Karin Johnson of RVC Pride said. There was a bigger turnout than they’ve had in the past, Dunne said, and the crowd was largely young people this year.
Participants adorned their vehicles with rainbow-themed decorations and stickers to celebrate Pride Month before embarking on the hour-long caravan through the village, ending at Village Hall, Johnson said.
During the decorating period, people mingled and got to know each other, and Dunne said it was “an hour of community before we set off.”
The event began with snacks and mingling before the caravan set off, culminating in a group photo captured by a local photographer. “It was kind of an hour of community before we set off,” said Dunne.
Now in its third year, the Pride Caravan is meant to be a “highly visible” celebration that brings attention to the LGBTQ+ community in Rockville Centre, [name] said. The initiative expanded from small symbolic gestures — such as window clings and mini pride flags — into a growing movement that now includes bold lawn signs dotting local yards each June.
Though not a formal nonprofit, RVC Pride is run by a small group of volunteers who have become a visible presence in town, including Johnson, Dunne and Scott Ressman, pastor at United Church. While the caravan and lawn sign campaign are the group’s primary focus, RVC Pride also plays a role in local advocacy.
“When things have come up in Rockville Centre, we have that trusty community behind us, who we call upon for backup, for support, and to show mostly the youth of Rockville Centre that they are valued,” Dunne said.
