NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – New York City's 51st annual Pride Parade was being held virtually for the second year in a row, with pop-up events taking place across the city, along with a street fest, march and dance party.
The main parade, which usually draws throngs of participants and spectators, was once again being presented as a television broadcast special, since now-lifted pandemic restrictions were still in effect at the time it was being planned.
The parade included five grand marshals. Among them are actor Wilson Cruz; Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, known for his efforts in HIV prevention; and Bronx model Aaron Rose Philip, the first Black transgender model with a physical disability to be represented by a major modeling agency.
The parade was not only virtual again but was also being held without law enforcement groups for the first time. NYC Pride announced last month that organizations like the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) would not be included in its events until at least 2025.
People looking to gather in person on Sunday afternoon were able to attend PrideFest, a street fair with vendors, food and entertainment in Greenwich Village.
Participants said PrideFest is a place to be free; laughs, smiles and cheers could be heard, seen and felt through Fourth Avenue, between 9th and 13th streets.
New Jersey resident Ali, who is transgender and uses they/them pronouns, said "it's just incredible walking around seeing all sorts of visibly queer people celebrating."
“We don’t have to be understood for people to accept and celebrate what’s going on,” they said. “I don’t expect my parents or other people to understand what I feel to be my relationship with gender and with sexuality and things like that.”
This year’s Pride theme is “The Fight Continues,” which resonated with attendees at the festival after a long year of advocating for social justice issues amid a pandemic.
Sean Gannon from Maplewood was with his husband and two 3-year-old sons, representing organization Men Having Babies, which connects couples with surrogate mothers.
“It’s such an important thing for them to see that they have two dads and that there are other people that have two moms, two dads, single dads, single moms. There are all different ways that families are made up, so it’s really awesome to be able to share this experience with them today,” Gannon said.
A dance party was also planned for Herald Square, and fireworks, music and food were prepared for Pier 45 in Hudson River Park.
For people looking to march for LGBTQ rights, the Reclaim Pride Coalition was holding its third Queer Liberation March from Bryant Park to the Stonewall National Monument and into Washington Square Park.
The liberation march event does not allow police or corporate participation.
The city's gay pride parades began in 1970 to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, which started after a police raid on The Stonewall Inn.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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