|
|
| |
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
LGBT Community, United for Equality, Marches to Celebrate 38th Anniversary of Stonewall Uprising |
|
by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
|
|
 |
|
Metro Bears & St.Patrick's cathedral
Photo by Bruce-Michael Gelbert |
|
On Sunday, June 24, thousands of members of the LGBT community gathered, under bright, sunny skies, in New York City, to march proudly to celebrate the anniversary of the historic June 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, when our people first rose up against the police, who were raiding one of our gathering places, a bar, the Stonewall Inn, on Christopher Street, in Greenwich Village.
"United for Equality" was the theme of the 38th annual Pride March, my 37th, organized by Heritage of Pride, and Grand Marshals were religious leaders Reverend Dr. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Churches, and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah.
I spent the day with some of my nearest and dearest, marching with the MetroBears New York contingent with my partner, Joe Saporito, and friends Greg Klosek and Mistress Sharon, having started the day with a pride breakfast given by Paul Kimball and Barry Sorkin. We saw cultural, religious, political, athletic, and neighborhood groups; people of color; people with AIDS; people with disabilities; elected officials, like New York State Senator Tom Duane, and organizations promoting same sex marriage equality, which was voted on favorably (85 to 61) in the New York State Assembly on June 19; LGBT police officers and firefighters; seniors, like Ralph and Paul, who carried a sign reading "52 Years Together!" and youth groups; and leather, bear and drag title holders.
more photos ...
visit the gallery by Bruce-Michael Gelbert & Joseph R. Saporito
|
|
|
|
Marching from 52nd Street to Christopher Street, we saw the lavender line painted down the middle of Fifth Avenue and, with pink Ribbons of Remembrance, observed the 2 p.m. moment of silence in memory of those we have lost. With PRIDEfest, the street fair, a 15-year-old institution, canceled, we hung out on "Leather Alley," Weehawken Street, behind the Dugout, late in the afternoon, and concluded the festive day by watching the display of Pride fireworks over the Hudson River.
more photos ...
visit the gallery by Bruce-Michael Gelbert & Joseph R. Saporito
|
|
|
|
|
|
