The streets of downtown Seattle were filled Sunday with crowds celebrating the 35th anniversary of Seattle Pride. Marching in the festivities — some for the first time — were members of the UW community.

The parade began at Union Street and 4th Avenue at 11 a.m. and ended near Seattle Center as part of the monthlong Seattle Pride celebration that aims to create unity and honor diversity with LGBTQ pride events.

The Q Faculty and Staff of the UW (QFSUW) group marched in Seattle’s parade for the first time this year, and UW staff member Ivan Henson designed the T-shirt logo for this year’s event.

“What the Pride parade does is show the queer community and the non-queer community that we provide a support network for our students,” said UW alumnus Stein Haakenstad, who walked with the group. “It was to show the unified front of the Huskies and the UW to the student body.”

The group didn’t have a float this year, instead sporting purple T-shirts and marching behind a banner, but they hope to expand in the coming years.

“We definitely plan to grow UW’s presence at the parade, since this was our first year as a funded [group],” said organizer James Fesalbon.

QFSUW also hopes to partner with other groups for the coming parades.

“I think the future plan would be to actually encourage not just the queer faculty, staff and students, but also allied groups to join and help fund a float,” said graduate student Ed Chang.

The group had received $1,000 in funding from the UW’s Leadership, Community and Values Initiative to use during the entire 2008-2009 school year, but it struggled to cover the costs of the parade. To offset the expense of the event, members of the group purchased their own T-shirts.

“We knew going into the academic year that $1,000 was going to be difficult to spread throughout the year,” Fesalbon said. “You basically had to be creative as to how you’re going to make the money last.”

Budget cuts have created uncertainty about funding for the coming year, and the group’s allocation for the 2009-2010 school year has yet to be determined. But since Sheila Edwards Lange, vice president of minority affairs and vice provost of diversity, marched with the group, some members aren’t concerned.

“If the [vice president of minority affairs] is willing to step out here, I think it shows that the UW values diversity,” Fesalbon said.

The UW chapter of Delta Lambda Phi, a national social fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men, marched in the parade and hosted a booth at Seattle PrideFest, the celebration at Seattle Center following the parade.

“It’s a great way to build connections with other groups in the community,” said Delta Lambda Phi President Rob Squizzera. This marks roughly the fifth year the fraternity has marched in the parade and the first year they have had a booth at the festival.

This year’s parade celebrated a theme of peace, love and equality, encouraging participants to express and honor diversity.

“In a group of people that is often oppressed,” said Fesalbon, “having these events for this monthlong celebration serves as a way to celebrate pride in being true to oneself.”

Reach Arts Editor Lexie Krell at news@dailyuw.com.