By Karen Rempel
Marchers and spectators from around the world brought a rainbow of color and sparkle to New York City on June 30 to celebrate and support each other at the 2019 LGBTQIA+ Pride March. NYC Pride was the official host of WorldPride NYC 2019 and Stonewall 50. These events meant unprecedented millions of people took place in the festivities. The parade began at noon with a roar, as Dykes on Bikes revved their motors to lead the parade. After another motorbike group, we saw a troop marching with flags of the world. Over 150,000 marchers stepped off at 26th Street and galivanted with multitudinous beautiful, fierce, and creative expressions of Pride down Fifth Avenue to West 8th Street, along Christopher Street, and up Seventh Avenue to West 23rd Street.
With marchers participating many from countries around the world, the parade lasted until well over midnight. This must be a record for New York City parades. It was certainly the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride event in history. Cities around the world held simultaneous parades, bringing an inspirational avalanche of awareness and support for our LGBTQIA+ communities around the world.
NYC Pride worked closely with the New York Police Department, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office, and Council Speaker Corey Johnson to organize and manage the event. The New York Police and Fire Departments did a remarkable job of crowd control, bringing this historic and gigantic event to a safe close and cleaning up the streets by the next morning. Kudos to an incredible effort on their part.
WestView News is proud to work with the Research Foundation to Cure Aids to bring you this photo celebration from Pride 2019.
(See more photos and information about the Research Foundation to Cure Aids Here.)
Photo credits: Dusty Berke, Ismael Ramirez, Karen Rempel, Kambiz Shekdar, Deborah Strafella
(See more photos and information about the Research Foundation to Cure Aids Here.)
