Clouds and a few drops of rain couldn’t dampen spirits at this weekend’s PrideFest St. Louis parade, where attendees had more than usual to cheer about.

“We’re happy to celebrate,” said Rabbi Jordan Gerson of St. Louis Hillel at Washington University. “We’re happy to be an ally and to welcome Jews and members of the community no matter their preference, sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Gerson was among dozens of people from 18 local organizations making up the Jewish contingent of Sunday’s Pride Fest annual event, which came in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriages.

Gerson said he hadn’t necessarily expected the ruling to arrive as soon as it did.

“In recent years, it was something that I had the feeling would be coming down the pipeline, but I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up Thursday morning to see the news,” he said. 

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew Congregation, clad in beaded necklaces and a “Loved by God” button, said the ruling was not unexpected.

“I was surprised that there were not more votes in favor,” she said of the court’s 5-4 decision.

Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation said the decision means she will be able to stop a small personal ritual that she’s been doing for decades.

“For over 30 years, whenever I do the first kiddush at a wedding for nongay couples, I always spill out a little of the wine,” she said, “Last night, I did my first wedding with a full cup because I didn’t have to spill it out for people who couldn’t get married legally in this country. I’ll tell you that I cried. It was very emotional.”

Talve said she’d been waiting for this day so long, she wasn’t sure it would even happen in her lifetime. But despite the joy, she said that marginalization remains an issue.

“I think everybody deserves a day of celebration,” she said. “That’s today, and tomorrow we go back to work because we still have work to do.”

Tony Westbrook, a bisexual who is a member of CRC and Congregation B’nai Amoona, said inequalities still persist in race, housing and health care.

“It is great that the decision happened, and it has needed to happen for a really long time,” said Westbrook, who attends Bais Abraham. “But it is also really important not to forget the other issues that are happening.”

Still, he expressed happiness at the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“I think it is really a momentous occasion in our history,” said Westbrook, who is single. “It’s a step further into saying that we’re all equal. We’re all the same. We’re all entitled to the same rights.”

For Elizabeth Nolan, the weekend’s news had a personal dimension.

“It means that it legalizes our two-mom family,” said Nolan, who was married by Talve when St. Louis began issuing licenses in November.

Today, she and her wife, Debi Purvis-Nolan, have a blended family. Each brought one child to the marriage,  and the pair adopted a third.

Nolan said she had been uncertain how the court would decide.

“I wasn’t quite sure that it would go our way,” she said. “Everybody told me that it would. To have it happen before [the PrideFest parade] is absolutely amazing. It gives us a chance to celebrate what really is our own victory.”

The ruling also had personal significance for St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman. It was handed down the same day that he and his wife, Megan, marked four years together.

“The Supreme Court gave us an awfully nice anniversary present when they said that everybody should have the opportunity to have the same happiness and the same recognition that we have,” said Zimmerman, who is Jewish. “That’s why I’m thrilled to be here.”

Standing in the back of a pickup, Zimmerman was part of a contingent of political figures. A fellow Democrat, State Rep. Sue Meredith, who is also Jewish, had a simple answer when asked what the ruling meant to her.

“Freedom,” she said. “It is the freedom to be whoever you are.”

Meredith said this was her third time attending the Pride event.

“Before, it was a celebration of people being who they are,” she said. “Today, it is a celebration that is sanctioned by the Supreme Court. That just makes it even better.”

Shaare Emeth congregants Bob and Susan Cohen of Creve Coeur, who were with the Jewish groups, were at their first PrideFest parade. The bought their children, Zach and Josh.

“We thought that of all years, this would be the year to come,” Susan Cohen said. “I really just wanted to come down and support the parade and the event today, especially at such a momentous time in history. I thought it would be great for the boys to see and be part of.”

B’nai Amoona congregant Traci Goldstein of Creve Coeur also thought it was important to take her daughter Dahlia Goldstein Larocco to the gathering.

sure it would even happen in her lifetime. But despite the joy, she said that marginalization remains an issue.

“I think everybody deserves a day of celebration,” she said. “That’s today, and tomorrow we go back to work because we still have work to do.”

Tony Westbrook, a bisexual who is a member of CRC and Congregation B’nai Amoona, said inequalities still persist in race, housing and health care.

“It is great that the decision happened, and it has needed to happen for a really long time,” said Westbrook, who attends Bais Abraham. “But it is also really important not to forget the other issues that are happening.”

Still, he expressed happiness at the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“I think it is really a momentous occasion in our history,” said Westbrook, who is single. “It’s a step further into saying that we’re all equal. We’re all the same. We’re all entitled to the same rights.”

For Elizabeth Nolan, the weekend’s news had a personal dimension.

“It means that it legalizes our two-mom family,” said Nolan, who was married by Talve when St. Louis began issuing licenses in November.

Today, she and her wife, Debi Purvis-Nolan, have a blended family. Each brought one child to the marriage,  and the pair adopted a third.

Nolan said she had been uncertain how the court would decide.

“I wasn’t quite sure that it would go our way,” she said. “Everybody told me that it would. To have it happen before [the PrideFest parade] is absolutely amazing. It gives us a chance to celebrate what really is our own victory.”

The ruling also had personal significance for St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman. It was handed down the same day that he and his wife, Megan, marked four years together.

“The Supreme Court gave us an awfully nice anniversary present when they said that everybody should have the opportunity to have the same happiness and the same recognition that we have,” said Zimmerman, who is Jewish. “That’s why I’m thrilled to be here.”

Standing in the back of a pickup, Zimmerman was part of a contingent of political figures. A fellow Democrat, State Rep. Sue Meredith, who is also Jewish, had a simple answer when asked what the ruling meant to her.

“Freedom,” she said. “It is the freedom to be whoever you are.”

Meredith said this was her third time attending the Pride event.

“Before, it was a celebration of people being who they are,” she said. “Today, it is a celebration that is sanctioned by the Supreme Court. That just makes it even better.”

Shaare Emeth congregants Bob and Susan Cohen of Creve Coeur, who were with the Jewish groups, were at their first PrideFest parade. The bought their children, Zach and Josh.

“We thought that of all years, this would be the year to come,” Susan Cohen said. “I really just wanted to come down and support the parade and the event today, especially at such a momentous time in history. I thought it would be great for the boys to see and be part of.”

B’nai Amoona congregant Traci Goldstein of Creve Coeur also thought it was important to take her daughter Dahlia Goldstein Larocco to the gathering.

“We have family members who are gay,” she said. “I think if we intend for the next generation to further the changes that we saw this week and possibly help other groups that are marginalized, we have to bring our children to these events.”

Dahlia, 5, a kindergartener at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community Day School, will serve as flower girl at a relative’s upcoming same-sex wedding.

“People have to help other people,” Dahlia said.

Marti Maurer, youth activities chairwoman at Temple Israel, said Sunday was an emotional day full of joy as well as sadness for those who died before it could come to pass.

“I think the best part about all of this is that my children, your children and future children will never know a time when they couldn’t marry whoever they wanted to,” said Mauer, who wore a flowered lei and tie-dyed youth group T-shirt.

Jennifer Bernstein, director of advocacy and communications for CRC, said that although she is  heterosexual, this was an important moment for everyone in the Jewish community.

“It makes me think of my uncle, who is LGBT, and how he was of the era where he actually married a woman because he didn’t think he’d ever be able to come out,” she said.

Wearing a rainbow kippah, Joseph Auteberry, an organizer for Q Jews, said his group had gotten an innovation grant from the Jewish Federation to help plan for the event.

“The decision means so much to me,” said Auteberry, a gay Shaare Emeth congregant. “For so many people, they are going to finally be able to have the same rights as anyone else in this country.”