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This year's LGBTQ+ Pride Parade in New York City left nothing to be desired. The MLB and NFL made their debut in support of their LGBTQ+ athletes and fans, and actors, fashion designers, sports stars and more made appearances. We saw people of all walks of life, backgrounds, ages, races, and religions come out to celebrate, and, overall, it was a grand show of love and support.
We spoke to 10 attendees about why they walked, and their answers left us filled with pride.
Billie Jean King
"First of all, I've never been able to come because I always have had to be at Wimbledon. And Wimbledon is a week later now, so I'm so excited. I've waited for years and years to be here. So, I appreciate it a lot and am so privileged to be a grand marshal. But what it means to me is our celebration. I mean, it started in 1970 after the Stonewall Riots of '69, and it's a way for us to celebrate and come together to show unity. And to also keep thinking about the future and the work we have to do to make the world a better place." - Billie Jean King, tennis legend and Pride Parade grand marshal
Timothy Westbrook
“So about a year ago, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis [...] But I’m going to keep going, and I’m proud of my body, and I’m proud of what my body has given me. We go to the yoga mat being who we are, and I’m going to the Pride march being who I am today wanting to dress the way that I am. I am not my disease, I am proud of it.” -Timothy Westbrook, fashion designer featured on Project Runway
Lea DeLaria
"Given the current administration, Pride means everything, visibility means everything right now. They want to take everything we have worked for, my entire life's work, which is to break the chains of our second-class citizenship. And they are trying to take my entire life's work and shove it down the toilet. So Pride has ceased to be just a celebration. We were a protest, then we were a celebration, then we are now a protest again. Because we have to be visible and we have to dump fucking Trump." - Lea DeLaria, activist and Orange is the New Black actor
Sitara Herur
“Pride for me means family. It means fitting in and being able to wear glitter all over my face and not be stared at for it.” - Sitara Herur, student
Anthony Rubio
“Pride means everything. It means equality, it means love, it means respect. It means everything that everyone desires for everyone, not just for select people.” - Anthony Rubio, designer
Brenna and Frida
“Pride to me is really meaningful. I’m bisexual and I came to my first Pride march when I moved to New York City in 2001 and this is her first march. Well, technically I came when I was pregnant with her, but it’s her first one that she’s been able to see. It’s important to me that Frida understands that families are big and that love is for everyone.” - Brenna
Marcelo Abramovich and Trent Kirkpatrick
“Liberation, less oppression, feeling free, not feeling guilty about who you are, or oppressed or ashamed of who you are." -Marcelo Abramovich
“Unity, progress, freedom.” -Trent Kirkpatrick
Sanchaya Satish
“Pride is a time where I can be on these streets and feel completely safe and accepted by everyone around me. And I can't help but smile when I’m around these people because I'm three years into coming out and being comfortable in myself. It’s still so special to come out, and just see all the love that New York City has to bring. It’s one of my favorite experiences of the year.”
Shawaun Deshazo
“It means that everybody can unapologetically be themselves. My children get to celebrate who they are.”
Avi
“[Pride is] basically the one time of year that we get to celebrate our identity. It’s also very important for us to be out in public and be part of the fabric of the city. [To] really be on the streets and [have] people see us, and help them celebrate.”
