Alaska PrideFest Parade Cancelled

(Anchorage, Alaska) To commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City which protested the arrest of homosexuals, the Alaska PrideFest Parade (route - pdf) was scheduled for yesterday in downtown Anchorage.

The PrideFest Grand Marshal Doug Frank, a veteran LGBQT activist, was riding in a convertible driven by 70-year-old Edith Bailey of Eagle River. Walking out front was Mr. James Crump, a registered nurse employed by the city.

As minutes ticked toward the 11 AM official start of the PrideFest parade, the convertible carrying the Grand Marshal lurched forward, knocking Mr. Crump to the pavement.




Then the convertible kept going, running over and killing Mr. Crump.

"It was awful. The man didn't say a word or make a sound. Hopefully it was fast and painless," Frank said.

Efforts to revive Mr. Crump failed.

As a result of Mr. Crump's death, the PrideFest parade was cancelled by event organizers, Myrna's DJ and drag queen Miss Daphne DoAll LaChores.