🌈 If just for a day, Alyssa Alexander said it felt like no one was trying to rain on her parade.⁠ ⁠ From rainbow and pastel capes to a shirt that said “Free Dad Hugs,” amid a sea of thousands on a sunny Saturday in Ybor, the 21-year-old Tampa resident said it felt like it was impossible not to have a good time at the Tampa Pride festival and parade, where thousands found respite from a political climate surrounding LGBTQ issues that has many of them deeply concerned.⁠ ⁠ “It’s good to be here,” Alexander said. “It feels like a safe space.”⁠ ⁠ Read more about the celebration and see more photos at the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ ✍️ : Divya Kumar / Tampa Bay Times & 📷 : abaderphoto / Special to the Times