This year in New York City, the LGTG Pride Parade to commemorated the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots was held on June 29th. This year's Boy Scout color guard said a lot about progress.
While the Boy Scouts of America are not yet a shining symbol of acceptance, the organization voted to end the hateful policy of prohibiting openly gay youths from being scouts. With khaki shirts, olive pants and rainbow neckerchiefs, this was the first time the Boy Scouts marched in New York City’s Pride Parade.
Each year as the parade, that was once called “The March,” follows the lavender line down Fifth Avenue it all seems a bit more mainstream. Looking back at the recent past it almost seems like the arguments of bigots fell apart overnight but the parade is still a demonstration that represents forty-five of community action and more. These colors don’t run.
Now there's a flag that says "Liberty and Justice for All."
On November 9, 2010 the American Civil Liberties Union had already earned the nickname "Team Edie" but on Sunday they handed out heart shaped fans with Edie's face on them. For many of the people who attended the parade Edie Windsor became the Grand Marshal of PrideNYC in spirit.
There were three Grand Marshals in the flesh. Johnathon Groff was upfront in a silver Mustang but never looked my way for a photo. Laverne Cox (in the above photo) was in the second Mustang.
Then came Rea Carey who is the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"Where everyone is celebrated for who they are." Located at 208 West 13 Street since 1983, I like to think of this oasis in the Village as the heart of the city, certainly the heart and home of NYC’s LGBT community. Neither the oldest nor largest Gay Community Center in the nation but walk through that door and everyone feels like they belong.
The Boy Scouts of America were not the only color guard. The Flaggots have been pleasing the crowd since the days when this parade was called "The March." As this 2013 Fifth Avenue video and this 2014 Bryant Park rehearsal video demonstrate, they are pretty amazing.
New York's Bravest. In addition to our most beloved civil servants, the members of the FDNY, the NYPD Police Band and Gay Officers Action League also marched and in full uniform. Years back the Police Brass allowed officers to march but not in uniform.
And then there is the Occupy Weed Street sector. These marchers don't have to worry about getting to close to the NYPD German Shepherds. When it comes to Marijuana, New York City has "a don't ask, don't tell" policy.
In recent years the politicians have been out in force. Almost all of them this year, even Newlyweds! Congratulations to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and Randy Florke.
A lot of years have passed since I've heard the public cheer a New York City Mayor. Bill de Blasio and family were greeted with open arms. I doubt it was just about his boycotting the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade because the organizers are bigots. It's also about the 99% feeling like they once again are being listened to.
By far the warmest reception and largest entourage belonged to Eric Schneiderman. Perhaps because this New York Attorney General filed a brief supporting the claim of Edie Windsor and argued that DOMA in defining marriage constitutes "an intrusion on the power of the state." Or it could be other reasons, like the fact that he has a long history of remembering his campaign promises well past election day.
The crowd seemed a bit subdued for the Governor's passing. Andrew Cuomo's beautiful daughter is walking by his side.
Of course every parade has at least one buffoon. Give Chuckles the Clown a megaphone and he will march down Fifth Avenue shouting “I was the first Senator to march in the Gay Parade.” Can you read what the look on the face of the guy in the purple shirt says? "Sometimes it's not about you."
But where's the beef? The edginess of Pride has died down some. Comparatively speaking these recent marches seem a bit conventional. But that's a big part of acceptance, right? And yes the name of those sports bar's really are "Boners."
Now for edgy you get "Orange is the New Black," MasterCard with an "Acceptance Matters" float, parade goers chanting "Net neutrality" at the Comcast float and Wal-Mart employees waving a giant rainbow flag.
My favorite of the commercial sightings was Wells Fargo bringing back the Fifth Avenue stagecoach. And TD Bank came with enough beads for everyone.
Of course community groups came on strong. The Door in the photo above is a community youth organization. Several chapters of PFLAG marched and Pride is for Children was represented. There were groups about immigration education, granny's for peace and a host of organizations dedicated to equality.
There was also several ethnic groups. SALGA-NYC stands for South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association of New York City.
Of the many religious groups, this group blasting "Hava Nagila" and dancing in the street seemed to be having the best time.
Another group that the crowd seemed to enjoy was the "Gotham Girls Roller Derby."
I wanted to stay for "Act UP" but my legs got tired I didn't make it to the end. The last photo of the day is the picture above of the GMHC.
You still have some rights and some of those rights seem almost new. Support the ACLU.
Usually my favorite part of the day is after the parade, stopping by the Stonewall, visiting the Community Outreach booths and the enjoying party down on Greenwich Street after the the march but I didn't get there either. So I'll close out with three photos from 2012 that I think say a lot about the recent progress.
Notice the words in the stripes of the American flag shirt in the bottom photo of the Obama GOTV booth "PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN."