Sweltering humidity and overcast skies couldn’t dampen the spirits of tens of thousands of celebraters who gathered along the route of the 2024 New York Pride Parade on Sunday.
Big smiles lit up the faces of participants in the annual parade, with rainbow-coloured banners and flags flying as far as the eye could see as participants danced in the streets and bubbles and confetti flew from the jubilant crowds.
The parade, now in its 54th year, began at noon at the corner of 25th Street and 5th Avenue near Madison Square Park in Manhattan, led by the LGBTQ Motor Club and closely followed by vibrant marching bands and color guards.
This year’s parade theme, “Reflect. Empower. Unite,” was chosen by organizers NYC Pride and aims to encourage supporters and their allies to reflect on the challenges the community has faced in the past while also empowering them to shape the future.
“The New York Pride March is how we combat all negativity — it’s a celebration where people from every borough of New York City and around the world come together in joy to share the accomplishments, talents and resilience of our community,” Sandra Perez, executive director of New York Pride, said in a statement.
This year also marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of violent demonstrations and clashes over several days in June 1969 between New York City police and patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, that are considered the beginning of the gay rights movement.
The parade’s reflective theme and muggy weather likely kept the crowd a little more subdued than usual, but the marching band still had no trouble getting the crowd going with a thumping rendition of Britney Spears and Will.i.am’s “Scream and Shout.”
Mayor Eric Adams was also in attendance, wearing a blue baseball cap embroidered with a rainbow and waving a Pride flag, flanked at the front of the group by Queens Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar.
“We need a new mayor!” shouted several onlookers upon seeing Hizzoner.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) was seen marching down Fifth Avenue with two whistles around his neck and a bullhorn, pumping his fist in triumph as he passed the crowd.
Governor Kathy Hauckle and state Attorney General Letitia James were also spotted along Fifth Avenue during the parade.
Hundreds of marchers showed their support for Israel by waving flags that combined the Star of David with the Pride rainbow. They held up peace signs as they walked, and some wore shirts that read “Jewish Queer Pride!”
A flatbed truck with a large banner reading “Free Palestine” on either side also carried about a dozen anti-Israel protesters wearing kefir hats and waving Palestinian flags.
The group in the truck cheered and shouted slogans, but the parade crowd seemed indifferent to their presence.
Roads along the parade route were a maze of barricades that were difficult to navigate but helped disperse people from the crowded sidewalks, where entrepreneurs hawked colorful Pride merchandise and tons of alcoholic juices and ice creams were sold to feed the excited crowds.
One enterprising vendor, Andre Mason, saw customers swarm his merch stand, lining up to buy Pride-themed paper fans for $22 each, emblazoned with phrases like “Vogue” and “YASSS!”, as well as more vulgar designs.
“I came here to sell my wares, but I also came here to interact with the community,” Mason said, telling The Washington Post that his business was so good he wasn’t able to watch much of the parade.
“Everyone has to work. This is New York!” he said.
Employees of stores along the parade route had the best seats in the house, and many were seen crowding around store windows to get a sneak peek at the procession.
The parade proceeded down Fifth Avenue, turned west on Eighth Avenue, proceeded down Christopher Street in the Village, and passed by Stonewall National Monument.
President Biden was joined Friday by Governor Hockal and superstar singer and gay icon Elton John to mark the grand opening of the monument’s new $3.2 million visitors center.
The streets around the inn were barely walkable on Sunday as everyone jostled to claim a spot in the famous plaza. Excited screams erupted from the crowd as Michelle Visage, the TV personality and singer best known as a judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” waved from a convertible.
The festive atmosphere outside the Stonewall Inn resembled a street party: people were drinking, smoking and dancing, many nearly nude.
DeShawn Fisher waited for friends wearing a see-through rainbow shirt made of chains.
“Today is a day to celebrate love and happiness,” he said, noting that he recently moved to New York and was celebrating his first Pride parade in the city.
Sefa Nurtes, decked out in rainbow feathers and carrying a paper fan, said she was undeterred by heightened security following threats against the parade in March, as she went with the flow, bar-hopping and enjoying the parade.
“Today means joy and love. Happy Pride!” he exclaimed.
