NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s annual LGBTQ Pride parade was held virtually for the second year in a row Sunday due to the pandemic, but that didn’t stop thousands from marching, celebrating and making their presence felt at a series of events around the city.
The main New York City Pride parade, which usually draws throngs of participants and spectators, was presented as a television broadcast special, since now-lifted pandemic restrictions were still in effect at the time it was being planned.
In a pre-recorded video aired during the event, actor Wilson Cruz, one of the parade’s grand marshals, said, “Pride for me is about how we work in earnest to truly include all of us across the spectrum of identities in our struggle for freedom and liberation.”
On a day marked with high temperatures and brilliant sunshine, throngs gathered around the city, at PrideFest, a street fair with vendors, food and entertainment in Greenwich Village; at Herald Square where a dance party was planned, and at Washington Square Park, where videos posted online showed a raucous party in progress. 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 held 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.
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