Ready To Celebrate
The symbolic rainbow, which encompasses all colors of the spectrum, is marched down 37th Avenue.
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15th Annual Parade Hits Jackson Heights
By Brian M. Rafferty
For the last 15 years, a tradition has been growing in Queens. The main drag of Jackson Heights, from 89th to 75th Streets entertains a crowd of tens of thousands who come out to see one of the biggest celebrations of gay life in the five boroughs – the Annual Queens Pride Parade.
On 37th Avenue, which is packed with cheering supporters (and a handful of protesters), the street turns into a dazzling array of color, fun and frolicking as all segments of the borough’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population let it all hang out – some more than others – in an annual celebration of being out and in the open in Queens.
But despite the glamour and frivolity of a parade, there is a serious theme to this year’s march – marriage equality.
“Now, more than ever, it is important that we show support for Governor Spitzer’s proposal to allow same sex marriages in New York State. I call upon all elected officials, especially those from Queens, to support equal rights for all of our residents,” said parade organizer Daniel Dromm. “We have come a long way since this parade started 15 years ago when we were just beginning to fight for basic civil rights. Marriage is now the defining issue for the LGBT movement.”
In selecting the grand marshals for this year’s parade, the organizers selected three people who have helped support the agenda of the gay movement in a variety of ways.
“Our grand marshals represent the best,” Dromm said. “Each has a long record as a fighter in the battle for fairness and equality.”
Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) said he is proud to have been selected.
“As a strong supporter of civil rights and equality for all Americans, I am honored to be selected Grand Marshal of the 15th Annual Queens Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade and Festival,” he said. “This wonderful showcase for diversity and multiculturalism is a powerful demonstration of our community’s strength and unity in the face of continued intolerance and hate crimes.”
Emily Giske, Vice Chairperson of the New York State Democratic Committee, will be the second grand marshal.
“It’s important that we march in the Queens LGBT Pride parade to show support for marriage equality,” Giske said. “Lesbian and gay people should also have the over 1,000 rights and privileges that come with marriage. We applaud the Governor’s proposal to create equality.
“As we move closer to this goal, Queens is critical in the marriage equality effort,” she added. “Legislators here reflect the growing desire by a majority of New Yorkers to support same sex marriage. I have been working for LGBT equality for many years and I am very proud to have been chosen as a grand marshal in the Queens parade.”
The third grand marshal, Andy Humm, is co-host of Gay USA, a weekly gay and AIDS news show, for last 20 years. He was the director of Education at the Hetrick-Martin Institute for Lesbian and Gay Youth, which in 1986 started one of the first AIDS education programs in the country.
“When I went to Queens as a young activist in the mid-1970s, it was often to protest Council Members who were denying us our rights,” he said. “Thanks to the wonderful work of the Queens activists who organize this parade, the county is now one of the leaders in the fight for LGBT rights. It will be an honor to march in this year’s parade and I hope everyone gets the message that while we have much to celebrate; we still have lots of work to do to achieve full equality –especially in the area of marriage.”
Thousands turn out each year to celebrate gay pride.
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The parade will kick off at noon at 89th Street and 37th Avenue, and will continue down the avenue to 75th Street.
Running simultaneous to the parade, a festival will be set up from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. between 73rd and 77th Streets on 37th Road with vendors, booths and all sorts of entertainment, items for sale, literature from support groups and food available.
The parade and festival are put together each year by the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee, the borough’s largest multi-service LGBT organization. It was started in 1993 in response to a growing debate over the “Rainbow Curriculum” and divisive statements made by School Board 24’s president.
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