Posted on 06/27/2004 1:30:32 PM PDT by nwrep
NEW YORK -- Gay pride parade-goers danced down Fifth Avenue and waved rainbow flags Sunday in celebration of a movement that has made huge strides this year with the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
"Even 10 years ago I would have said that's the wrong issue," said Ed Glorius, arms entwined around his partner, Dwight Pollard, whom he married in an unofficial ceremony at a Manhattan restaurant last week. "And now I feel very differently."
While Massachusetts became the only U.S. state to legally recognize gay marriages following a ruling by its Supreme Judicial Court last November, gay pride revelers said they expect New York and other states to follow.
"We will do it no matter what," said Ricardo Moran of Bridgehampton, on Long Island. "It will be happening."
Officially called the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride March, the parade commemorates the Stonewall uprising of 1969, when gay bar patrons resisted a police raid. The police did not give a crowd estimate, but organizers claimed nearly 300,000 participants.
There were marching bands, politicians including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and, as always, plenty of men wearing G-strings and towering heels.
Actor Harvey Fierstein, who recently completed a Broadway run in "Hairspray," drew cheers and cries of "We love you Harvey!"
But the stars of the parade were couples like Gus Archilla and Elmer Lokkins, who married in Canada last year after living together for 58 years. They waved from a convertible with a "Just Married" sign on the bumper.
With President Bush supporting a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, the parade was a political rally as much as a celebration.
Several contingents handed out voter registration forms, and Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank led a large group of supporters of Sen. John Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee. Frank, the first openly gay member of Congress, said he wasn't surprised that his state had legalized same-sex unions.
"I thought some day, but it happened earlier than I thought and it's been received better," he said.
Jim Williams of Baltimore said he was glad to see politicians marching.
"It shows how important the gay vote is," he said. "In a close election we can really make a difference."
For the fourth year running, the parade was preceded by a mass symbolic wedding in Central Park.
J.M. Sorrell, a justice of the peace in Massachusetts, told the 60 couples gathered to exchange vows how she cried when she officiated at the first legal same-sex wedding in Northampton, Mass.
"Everything has changed," she said. "It goes beyond the institution of marriage."
Evan Wolfson, executive director of the national advocacy group Freedom to Marry, said, "Let us celebrate today and then go to work. New York should lead, not lag."
PING
Man do those people want attention! Its pathetic!
Michael Moore in the GREEN T SHIRT!
LOL! That's what I was thinking too!
But then I noticed the chest area was not big enough.
Adam sure looks like he's prancing, with his little limp wrist flopping up and down. Jeeze, these people make me sick.
Sick, Sicker, Sickest.
If these fruits are so proud of their perversion, how come the parade isn't called homosexual pride parade?
Unusual to see such photographs posted on a major media website. For years they reported on these gay pride parades but hid the actual details from viewers.
I seriously doubt that Adam & Steve are likely to pull in a lot of votes for John Kerry if people see this picture.
This whole story should be edited into a Bush campaign ad.
Faggot marriages or not, Barney will be so disappointed when he learns that Flipper John will never have his marriage to his current wife annulled just to marry Barney. Fwank simply doesn't have the bucks!
Sounds good to me. You don't think it would backfire do you?
Brad Brandt walks to his "Bunnies on the Bayou," float with friends before the start of the Houston's 26th Annual Pride Parade on Saturday.
My My isn't this special.
How appropriate that Barney Frank lead the parade. I hope all these folks will converge on Boston for the big Democratic "Love Fest" at the end of July. Just the thing we need to see on TV.
"Man I'm tired of puking" SirLurkedalot.
For years, Chuck, one hell of a tough guy and a great heavyweight fighter, suffered under the nickname the "Bayonne Bleeder." He won a lot of fights, despite bleeding like an Oklahoma gusher every time he was tapped on the face.
How the hell did Barney Frank, as a Bayonne native,(everybody in Bayonne has a nickname) escape being called "The Bayonne Bugger?"
I think we should remedy this oversight and tag him in print as "Barney, the Bugger of Bayonne," or even "BBB," every time some reference to the creep is necessary.
But seriously, it is high time BBB settled down and stabilized his life. True, he is not rich enough for Kerry, but Michael Moore would be an excellent choice.
I also would like to see Sodom Hussein furloughed long enough to be flower person.
Did you have to post pics?
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