Dancing Grannies to make debut in Milwaukee Pride Parade

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are always on the move. They're set to make their debut in the Milwaukee Pride Parade on Sunday, June 4.

"Sometimes I think that people may look at us and think we're a bunch of old women and maybe we don’t get it," said Dancing Grannie Doreen Lopez. But we do get it and we're all about love and inclusivity. No matter who anybody is.

Jan Kwiatkowski is the president and co-leader of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies

"Myself personally and the grannies thought too that it was important to us to be out publicly our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community," said Kwiatkowski.

Not only will the grannies take to the street and strut their stuff, they're giving out hugs as well.

"You know in this world that we live in it is a darn lonely place. And sometimes when you are, maybe you are estranged from your family or you got friends, but they're not close friends and acquaintances or you're just struggling and you're alone and that embrace of another human being a non-judgmental embrace, grandmas do that. We give non-judgmental hugs," said Kwiatkowski.

"I think I do it for, not only my own kids, but more for their friends who I know that maybe don’t have family," said Lopez. "I grew up in New York City, near the village had a lot of gay friends. My best friend was gay, unfortunately passed away from aids back in 1993 and I have two gay daughters and because of all that are close to me. I also know too many that have been turned out by their families. I don’t understand it."

"There are so many members of the community that aren’t accepted that don’t get the love, that don’t get the reassurance at home and grannies are all loving and accepting. And if we can go and spread some love and some joy and put smiles on people's faces that’s why we march to bring joy to everyone," Dancing Grannie Colleen Minisce.

They're bringing joy to the streets of Milwaukee, not only as moms but as grannies.