LGBTQ+ Delight month ends with marches in New York, San Francisco and elsewhere | Related Press

NEW YORK (AP) – LGBTQ+ Delight month celebrations got here to an finish on Sunday, as revelers in rainbow colours took to the streets to take part in high-profile marches in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and different locations on this planet. .

The performances had been festive celebrations and on the similar time political protests. Companions acknowledge the group’s achievements and in addition name consideration to latest anti-LGBTQ+ legal guidelines in the USA, such because the ban on transgender healthcare, which has been handed in states below Republican rule.

“We’re in a time the place there are numerous legislative measures, anti-LGBTQ+ legal guidelines,” stated Zach Overton, 47, on the New York march. “It looks like we’re taking a step again within the struggle for equality, so it is a good time to get out and be with our group and to see the completely different colours of the spectrum of our group and remind us of who we’re. all combating for.”

1000’s of individuals gathered on Fifth Avenue in New York to have a good time Delight. The floats traveled down the road and the tune “I am Coming Out” by Diane Ross was taking part in over the loudspeakers. Delight flags crammed the skyline, and flags supporting Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Gaza had been seen among the many crowd.

This yr, tensions over the warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza additionally entered the present, highlighting divisions inside a group which are often alongside political traces. Some protesters quickly halted the New York march on Sunday, chanting, “Free Palestine, free, free!” A few of them had been ultimately taken away by the police.

Professional-Palestinian protesters disrupted June delight marches in Boston, Denver and Philadelphia. A number of teams concerned in Sunday’s marches stated they might attempt to put stress on the victims of the Gaza warfare, prompting pushback from Israel’s supporters.

“There’s undoubtedly a extra energetic presence this yr by way of protesting at Delight occasions,” stated Sandra Pérez, govt director of NYC Delight, a nonprofit group that organizes Delight occasions in New York Metropolis. “However we had been born from criticism.”

The primary delight parade was held in New York Metropolis in 1970 to mark the primary anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riot, a riot that started with a police raid on a Manhattan homosexual bar.

Nick Taricco, 47, who was on the New York march with Overton, stated he attended the dedication of the Stonewall Nationwide Memorial Customer Middle on Friday, the place President Joe Biden spoke. Taricco stated he’s apprehensive about politics in the USA, together with the presidential election.

“Even together with his age, I nonetheless assume that is the course we must always go,” Taricco stated of Biden. “However it’s a really unsure time typically on this nation. “

Eire celebrated Fernandez-Cosgrove, 23, on the New York present.

“New York Metropolis is a superb place to reside, however this is without doubt one of the solely days the place you possibly can exit and be open and know that you’ll be proper sufficient and secure about it,” she stated. “As we speak I got here right here with my associate so we could be ourselves in public and know that different individuals are going to help us. “

One other one of many world’s largest Delight celebrations was held on Sunday in San Francisco, with giant crowds of spectators lining Market Avenue.

Brian Peterson, secretary of the Homoto motorbike membership – a people-friendly group – rode his motorbike alongside the parade route.

“That is an occasion the place I can have a good time myself and my mates, and make new mates, and reaffirm that I am part of this world,” Peterson instructed the San Francisco Chronicle.

Tens of hundreds of marchers packed the sidewalks alongside the Chicago parade route, an occasion that had been shrunk from earlier years. Metropolis officers shortened the route on the north facet of town, and the variety of boats was diminished from 199 to about 150 as a result of logistics and safety issues – together with higher policing at evening – because the post-march events have been in recent times. change into extra chaotic. The Chicago parade, one of many largest in the USA, often attracts about 1 million folks, in line with town. Estimates of Sunday’s crowd dimension weren’t instantly accessible.

Marches had been additionally held in Minneapolis and Seattle.

Federal companies had warned that overseas terrorist teams and their supporters might assault the marches. In any respect Delight occasions within the nation there have been tight safety measures.

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