PORTSMOUTH — Keisha Martin’s group of young dancers has been participating in Portsmouth’s annual Memorial Day Parade for at least a decade, but that may all come to an end this year. Martin was disappointed to learn her group, Glam Kiddz, was rejected by parade organizers. The organization is a Portsmouth-based life skills development nonprofit for youth that focuses on dance, style and beauty.
“They look forward to it,” Martin said. “It’s an exciting day.” The parade has been a Portsmouth tradition since 1884, making it one of the longest-running in the nation.
It is a tribute to U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Following a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, it returned in 2022 and featured more than 70 marching bands, floats and service members. Martin’s group is one of a handful of dance and cheer groups who were told they can’t participate in this year’s city-sponsored event following concerns from organizers of “sexually explicit” dancing and side performances they say hold up the parade and go against parade protocol. But at a May 14 City Council meeting, all but one Council member voted to authorize the city manager to override that decision, with several members taking issue with the specific concerns raised against the dance groups.
Council member Mark Hugel cast the lone vote against. He serves on the Mayor’s Military Affairs Committee, which had the ultimate say on this year’s parade .