NYC pride parade 2016: Thousands celebrate in the biggest LGBT pride march in the world
NYC pride parade 2016: Thousands celebrate in the biggest LGBT pride march in the world
Participants of the 2016 NYC Pride March pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting as they ride down Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 26, 2016. (Credit: Charles Eckert)
New Yorkers kicked off the 46th annual Pride March with colorful leis around their necks, rainbow flags tucked under their shirts and tie-dye socks hugging their ankles. The parade is the biggest one in history, with a record 32,000 marchers.
This year's march comes two weeks after the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people and injuring dozens. The owner of Pulse, Barbara Poma, and manager, Neema Bahrami, rode on the lead float as honored guests of NYC Pride.
The parade also comes just two days after the fifth anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, and one year after the Supreme Court ruling making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.
Beginning at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue, the march ends at the historic Stonewall Inn, which was recently named a national monument by President Barack Obama.
Before the start of the parade, Mayor Bill de Blasio told the crowd that this year's parade will be more than a celebration of love. It will also be a rejection of hate, he said.
"Chirlane and I have marched in many, many pride parades, but this one will be truly special," he said. "This parade is New York City saying defiantly, we will stand up to hatred, we will stand up to those who try to undermine our values."
Among the 32,000 marchers in this year's parade, several wore beautiful, wild costumes — from an archer clad in silver armor to Uncle Sam in stockings and sparkly heels. A few feet away, giant rainbow garlands floated under the sky.
Kent Chua, an illustrator and artist based in Astoria, Queens, is leading the Heritage of Pride float at the front of the Pride Parade.
"This is what love is all about," he said.
Chua was dressed in the famous Crystal Pegasus Archer costume, made with 170 crystals.
Joanna Smith, 46, held up a large rainbow mirror in front of the spectators.
"I'm here to remind everybody of how beautiful they are as they are, and to take a good look at themselves and their friends," said Smith, a Brooklynite and first-time marcher with Community Board 6. "It's to remind everybody we're all the same underneath. We all need love and understanding."
Clutching a sign that says, "I <3 also="" aren="" community.="" gay="" hannus="" jessame="" lesbian="" mother="" my="" nbsp="" p="" parade="" people="" pride="" says="" shows="" support="" t="" that="" the="" who=""> "It really is the norm," Hannus, 45, of Rego Park, Queens, said.
"My mother came out when I was six and I marched in my first Gay Pride Parade when I was 10," Hannus added. "With all that happened last week in Orlando, I feel like I had to come back out and remind everybody that it's families we're talking about."
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