Millions Celebrate Pride March 2012 NYC Plus Gay Marriage
Since 1970, the annual march down the lavender line painted along Fifth Avenue has focused on different issues. Originally considered a civil rights demonstration, the march then brought attention to AIDS and bullying and hate. This year, the first anniversary of the passage if same sex marriage legislation in New York, the organizer came up with the theme “Share the Love.”
"We want the other states to have the exact same marriage equality passed just like us so we want everyone to just share the love and we thought it was perfect,” said Tish Flynn, board member and media director of Heritage of Pride, a volunteered-managed, non-for-profit organizers.
Flynn added, “It's a year of anniversaries where a lot of people couldn't celebrate an actual anniversary before so it's amazing people can come out with their families and celebrate and say, ‘Hey, I've been married for one year,’ it’s truly amazing.”
The organization is hoping a million people come to watch the 350 different groups and 500,000 participants make their way downtown from 36th Street into the heart of the West Village, where the route will pass the Stonewall Inn, the site of the 1969 the riots which helped sparked the modern day LGBT liberation movement.
The Grand Marshals of the parade include Chris Salgardo, of the skin care company Kiehls, singer Cyndi Lauper and the first legally wed same sex couple in NYC, Connie Kopelov and Phyllis Siegel.
NYC Pride will culminate with a ticketed dance on Pier 57 along the Hudson River where Lauper will perform.
RICHARD HAKE
Since 1992, Richard Hake has worked as News Host and Reporter at WNYC. His live and produced radio feature segments range from hard breaking news to cultural and artistic sound portraits. Richard’s work has been ...
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