Tens of thousands of people wrapped themselves in L.G.B.T.Q. Pride flags and wore their brightest rainbow gear to celebrate the New York City Pride March on Sunday. Despite the cloudy, humid day, gold and silver glitter lit up the sky.
The march commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, the catalyst for the modern L.G.B.T.Q. rights movement. The New York march is the largest of its kind in the United States, with organizers this year expecting around 25,000 marchers and around two and a half million spectators.
Luccy Griman, 52, of Waterbury, Conn., was among the paraders on Sunday, marching for the 20th time. Over the past two decades, the annual celebration has changed in many ways, he said, but one thing remains constant: the collective spirit to embrace who you are and live in the moment.
“Every year, I’m here to celebrate being together, to dress up and have fun,” he said. “To celebrate life now.”
Despite the joyous mood, the upcoming presidential election and laws threatening the rights of the L.G.B.T.Q. community motivated many to show their support at the parade.
Edwin Josue, 69, said he hoped that the swell of pride shown on Sunday would inspire the younger generation express themselves freely and fight for equality for all.
“This is an expression of our freedom; this is an expression of our diversity,” Mr. Josue said.
This year, some paraders called attention to the war in Gaza. Palestinian flags waved on many floats, and some attendees wore kaffiyehs and hats with watermelon designs in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
This year’s grand marshals included Dashawn Usher, the senior director of communities of color and media at GLAAD, and Miss Major, a transgender activist.
Kazz Alexander, the co-chair of N.Y.C. Pride, said in a statement that it was essential for people to support the mission of the Pride movement: “simply the opportunity to love, and to be able to live as you desire.”