Pride in Queens, N.Y.
Tens of thousands of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people
thronged Jackson Heights, N.Y., June 6 for the Queens Lesbian
and Gay Pride Parade and Festival. The event, which has grown
each year, originally came out of organizing that began after
the 1990 gay-bashing murder of Julio Rivera. When the lead
contingent in the march reached the schoolyard where Rivera was
killed, the exuberant, cheering crowd stilled for a moment of
silence.
Most who came were people of color--Latino, Black and Asian,
including many immigrants--reflecting the multinational borough
of Queens, N.Y. Parade grand marshals Urvashi Vaid of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and New York City
Councilmember Christine Quinn were among the speakers.
Teresa Gutierrez of Rainbow Flags for Mumia also spoke. She
reminded the crowd that this month is the 30th anniversary of
the Stonewall Rebellion, which was a street battle against the
police. She urged unity in the struggle against racism and
lesbian/ gay/ bi/trans oppression. And she called on everyone
to go to Philadelphia July 3-4 to demand a new trial for
political prisoner and death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.
--Shelley Ettinger
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