New York politicians were out in full force for Pride Sunday – after the NYPD said it was beefing up security in anticipation of the event.
Spotted among the amalgam of drag queens and activists marching down Fifth Avenue were figures like Eric Adams, Kathy Hochul, and Chuck Schumer – three of roughly 100,000 participants taking part in the parade’s main procession.
This year’s march – the 53rd in the city’s history – is expected to draw roughly a million spectators, while featuring some 60 floats that speak to the LGBTQ situation not only in New York, but across the country.
Other notable figures to take part in the revelry included Reverend Al Sharpton and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined Gov. Hochul as she took the time to address members of the crowd.
Meanwhile, both a literal and figurative dark cloud were cast over the festivities thanks to tenuous forecasts from not only the city’s police force, but its meteorologists – with a storm poised to slam Manhattan around 2pm.
New York politicians such as Eric Adams were out in full force for Pride Sunday – after the NYPD said it was beefing up security in anticipation of the event
Notable figures taking part in the colorful procession included Governor Kathy Hochul, Chuck Schumer, Reverend Al Sharpton and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined the governor as addressed members of the crowd
That said, in the interim, residents and revelers made the most of weather seen in the earlier part of the day – attending an array of outdoor parties that sprouted up all across the city.
Signage plastered throughout the parade’s planned route, meanwhile, touted how the city was ‘protecting LGBTQ+ New Yorkers’ during the festivities – a stance reiterated by Hochul and several the city tabbed to preside over the event.
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Included in that class were this year’s grand marshals – activists Yasmin Benoit, AC Dumlao, Randolfe ‘Randy’ Wicker, Billy Porter and Hope Giselle.
Those figures, as well as the aforementioned politicians, all sought to prop this year’s ‘Strength in Solidarity’ theme with their own statements and colorful photo-ops – amid an alleged outpour of anti-LGBTQ sentiment in recent years.
Always slated toward the end of June, the parade this year, as always, also commemorated the 1969 uprising by New York’s LGBTQ+ communities known as the Stonewall Rebellion, while preaching the continued importance of LGBTQ+ rights.
Sue Doster, co-chairperson of the city-funded Pride organization, earlier in the week explained that organizers were thrusting a spotlight on the rights associated with those of the trans community, whom have been the targets of Republican legislation as of late.
Speaking of city and state-led campaigns that have sought to bar things like drag story hours geared toward kids, Doster said: ‘They’re attacking these people because they’re less likely to stand up and fight back.
‘[This] is why it’s important that we all come together in solidarity and speak up when we see these injustices.’
Spotted among the amalgam of drag queens and activists marching down Fifth Avenue were figures like Adams – one of roughly 100,000 participants in the parade that cops have warned comes ‘amid an elevated threat environment worldwide’ involving the gay community
This year’s march – the 53rd in the city’s history – is expected to draw roughly a million spectators, while featuring some 60 floats that speak to the LGBTQ situation not only in New York, but across the country
Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul speaks during the 53rd NYC Pride Parade on Sunday
Senator Chuck Schumer is seen posing with a citizen while marching down a cordoned off Fifth Avenue on Sunday
Attorney General of New York Letitia James is seen attending the 2023 New York City Pride March Sunday
Also in attendance were this year’s parade grand marshals, which included activist Hope Giselle (pictured)
Grand Marshal Billy Porter, seen here with Hochul and fellow parade staffer Giselle, spoke of the injustices LGBTQ people have faced as of late
Each year, the city explodes in an array of colors and activism for its LGBTQ-themed parade – and this year was no different
The march kicked off at 11 a.m. at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, near the Flatiron building
The first Pride march was held in 1970, and has since been a bastion of the city’s progressive ideals
It often attracts scantily clad, sometimes rowdy revelers – with police this time around warning the march comes ‘amid an elevated threat environment worldwide’ involving to the LGBTQ community
The parade causes several streets to close, for not only the main procession, but an array of parties across the borough
This year’s march is expected to draw a million spectators, 100,000 participants and 60 floats
At noon on Wednesday, millions reveling in such beliefs descended on downtown Manhattan to make their support for the cause known – all while cops urged locals to be wary of increased incidents of violence.
While there were no specific threats to Manhattan’s march by the time it started , an assessment by the NYPD noted the event will take place ‘amid an elevated threat environment worldwide’ involving he gay and trans communities – and would thus require heightened security.
