Gay Pride Parade Wins Political Trifecta
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Thunderstorms and torrential downpours didn’t deter thousands of marchers and spectators at the 39th annual New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Parade yesterday.
The march began at 52nd Street in Midtown and wound down to the West Village. Floats in the parade were often political, such as one from the group Stand Against AIDS featuring images of the Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls, senators Obama and McCain. Others were more sexual in nature, such as Homo Xtra magazine’s float, which was flanked by muscular men wearing almost nothing.
Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Paterson, and the City Council speaker, Christine Quinn, walked together near the front of the march. Never before have those three governmental offices been represented together at the yearly event.
“That trifecta was tremendous,” Joe Barna, the secretary of the organization that coordinated the march, Heritage of Pride, said of the three leaders. “You can’t deny that it’s a positive step to have the governor there, given his support of gay rights recently.”
Last month, Mr. Paterson took steps to ensure that all New York agencies recognize gay marriages certified outside of the state. Currently, same-sex marriages cannot be legally performed in New York.
Two marchers dressed in spandex, platform shoes, and superhero-style capes, Arjuna Ladino and Shanti Owen, said they loved the rain. “Our only problem was our feet. We’re going to wear better shoes next time,” Ms. Owen said.
Lieutenant Kevin Keegan of the New York City Police Department said the rain didn’t disrupt the parade at all.
“The only float I didn’t see was Noah’s Ark,” he said. “That would’ve been a good one to be on.”