The month-long LGBTQ+ Pride celebration will reach its lavish grand finale as crowds of rainbow-laden revelers take to the streets for major parades in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere around the world
NEW YORK — The month long celebration of LGBTQ+ pride reaches its exuberant finale on Sunday, bringing rainbow-hued revelers to the streets for spectacular parades in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere.
The elaborate festivities will serve as both cheer parties and political protests, as participants recognize the community’s gains while drawing attention to recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, such as bans on transgender health care, passed by Republican-led states.
This year, tensions have risen over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza also seep into the festivities, exposing divisions within a community that is often politically aligned.
Already this month, pro-Palestinian activists have disrupted pride parades in Boston, Denver and Philadelphia. Several groups taking part in Sunday’s marches said they would try to center the victims of the war in Gaza, drawing resistance from supporters of Israel.
“It’s definitely a more active presence this year in terms of protesting at Pride events,” said Sandra Pérez, the executive director of NYC Pride. “But we were born out of a protest.”
The first pride march was held in new york city in 1970 to commemorate the first anniversary of the Rebellion at Stonewall Inna riot that began with a police raid on a Manhattan gay bar.
In addition to the NYC Pride March, the nation’s largest, the city will also host the Queer Liberation March on Sunday, an activism-focused event launched five years ago amid concerns that the more mainstream parade had become too corporate.
Another of the largest Pride celebrations in the world kicks off on Sunday in San Francisco. More parades are planned in Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle.
On top of concerns about protests, federal agencies have warned that foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters could target the parades and adjacent locations. A heavy security presence is expected at all events.