EDGE Miami

Firmly gripping the handle bars that sported an American flag on one side and gay pride on the other, Marta Pedrosa revved up her motorcycle at Miami Beach’s first gay pride parade on Saturday, April 18.

The Miami native with Cuban flavor wore faded ripped jeans, a Ride to Live t-shirt and a blue and white bandana. She led the parade of colorful floats and eclectic characters with her Dykes on Bikes group of five from Fifth Street to 15th Street and Ocean Drive.

"I want discrimination to stop," Pedrosa said. "That’s why I’m here; so that I won’t lose my job because I’m gay and I’m butch."

Singer Patti LaBelle and designer Richie Rich were grand marshals, and onlookers pulled out their cell phones and cameras to photograph themselves beside Ebonee Excell from the Palace, who was wearing seven-inch platform heels and a fuschia pink, green and orange dress. She was among the dolled-up drag queens who took part in the parade.

"Coming from a place that’s homophobic like Haiti, this means a lot to me," Excell said. "It gives me pride and more pride to be here."

More than 1,000 people attended the parade. Local businesses, the city of Miami Beach and a host of local LGBT non-profits and other organizations spent several months planning the event. The Pride Parade Committee added a bit of romance by inviting same-sex couples who have been together for more than 20 years to march.

Sherry Roberts and Alice Randolph were among those the committee identified as legacy couples. Roberts, who is running for Commissioner of Miami Beach, met Randolph through mutual friends 26 years ago in Cleveland. Roberts’ son was 12 and Randolph’s two boys were eight and 13 at the time.

"Joining any family is difficult but we didn’t experience more difficulty because we were gay," Roberts said. "The gay and lesbian community is united and I think people are behind us."

Randolph agreed as she smiled.

"You are seeing true diversity among our community," she said. "You’re seeing very young folks and folks like us. The thrill of celebrating our unity and our diversity-there just aren’t words."

Randolph and Roberts echoed other couples who said they feel the parade would bolster efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples and other forms of relationship recognition in the Sunshine State.

Pedrosa echoed this hope as she pointed to a t-shirt with a clipped button she stretched over her bike. It read Vote No on 14, No to Discrimination. And she kept it as a reminder of Miami-Dade’s 1998 anti-discrimination law Christian and anti-gay groups challenged in 2002.

The law remains on the books and Pedrosa’s presence at the head of the parade was all about pride.

"This is great not only for Miami Beach but for Miami," she said. "All the Hispanics that are closest need to come out. They need to say I’m here, I’m gay and I am a human being."