Hundreds of thousands of members of the LGBTQI+ community and allies from across the country and the world, filled 5th and 7th Avenues from Midtown Manhattan down to Christopher Street to celebrate New York City Pride. The route included Washington Square Park and the Stonewall National Monument and ended at 23rd Street and 7th Avenue. This year’s parade, the largest the city has hosted since its inauguration in 1970, was particularly meaningful as it paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion when members of the gay community rose against police violence and harassment after a raid of the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. New York City simultaneously hosted WorldPride commemorating the uprising which marked the beginning of the gay rights movement. Organizers estimated that about 150,000 marched in this year’s parade, the highlight was Pride month.
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Earlier in the day, the first Queer Liberation March had gathered in Sheridan Square, and marchers retraced the route of the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March in 1970. The march was organized in response to the corporate take over of the main parade as well as the presence of NYPD which organizers feel is problematic due to the police’s past issues with homophobia and violence towards the gay community.
