Large crowds turned out for Pride marches on Sunday in cities across the world.
ADVERTISEMENTLarge crowds turned out for Pride marches on Sunday in cities across the world.
In the US, two places most associated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights movement brought a political flavour to the event, sparked by events there almost 50 years ago: New York City and San Francisco.
In New York, the route ended on Christopher Street in Manhattan’s West Village to commemorate the riots that broke out there in 1969 after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar.
The event is seen as a turning point in the gay rights movement. New York’s first Pride march started close by a year later.
What happened?
A group of marchers heading down New York’s Fifth Avenue carried photographs of US President Donald Trump and his press secretary, Sean Spicer.
Others waved banners bearing the word ‘Resist’ and the rainbow flag of the Pride movement.
Why are they angry with Trump?
As a candidate, the US president promised to protect gay people. However, his decision in February to revoke the Obama administration’s guidance letting transgender students choose which gender bathroom they use and his executive order last month to promote religious liberty have been seen by some as discriminatory.
Who was there?
Participants included Chelsea Manning, the transgender US Army soldier who served seven years in prison for leaking classified data before former President Barack Obama granted her clemency.
The New York march’s grand marshals this year included the American Civil Liberties Union, which was chosen for its history of litigation defending gay rights.
There were also Brooke Guinan, a transgender woman who works as a firefighter in the city and Geng Le, a gay rights activist from China.
In tweets
The Empire State Building is turning into a giant rainbow for Gay Pride in NYC: https://t.co/XRIgp5CHTdpic.twitter.com/V5HFyZhp7W
— Time Out New York (@TimeOutNewYork) 23 juin 2017
Your guide to Gay Pride 2017 in NYC: https://t.co/DOpxLhvM6Tpic.twitter.com/9fT9ntUGIp
— Time Out New York (@TimeOutNewYork) 25 juin 2017
Gay pride marches in NYC, San Francisco and in between to have plenty of participants _ and also protests. https://t.co/paX2VL7RXJ
— The Associated Press (@AP) 23 juin 2017
What they are saying
“Honoured to represent the ACLU at this year’s NYC Pride March. Starting to lose my voice from screaming so much,” – Chelsea Manning.
“He already rolled back rights for transgender students, for example, and the list is on and on,” – New York State Democratic lawmaker Brad Hoylman targets Trump.