NYC Gay Pride Parade (SLIDESHOW, POLL)

New York City's 40th annual Gay Pride parade takes place this Sunday on June 29. Organized by the Heritage of Pride organization, the march proceeds down Fifth Avenue and finishes in Greenwich Village, passing by the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots on Christopher Street. The march began just one year after the riots in 1970. Over the years it has evolved into a celebration of recognition for the battle against AIDS and homophobic violence. This year's parade marks the 40th anniversary of Stonewall riots and will be devoted to commemorating the event as a turning point in the Gay Rights movement.

The official step off for the march is at noon on Sunday beginning at 52nd St and 5th Avenue. While registration for the march is already closed, spectators can line up along 5th Ave from the 50s to the teens to watch the colorful costumes dance by and show support for the LGBT community. Large and boisterous crowds are encouraged to watch anywhere in the village. This year's Grand Marshal's are Dustin Lance Black, Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg and Governor David Paterson.

In addition to the parade, the annual LGBT streetfair called PrideFest will be taking place on Sunday. Between 11:00am and 7:00pm go down to Hudson Street between Abington Square and W14th Street to celebrate in the street with the community, local business owners, out-of-towners and volunteers.

After the parade, the grand finale event takes place at The Dance On The Pier at West 13th St and the West Side Highway. Thousands of party-goers and friends gather from 4pm - 10:30pm, when fireworks light up the sky over the Hudson River. This is widely known as the greatest gay party of the year.

Here are some of the craziest outfits that have walked the parade over the years... let us know what you think of them by voting in our slideshow.

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 Not So Hot My Favorite Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 Ricardo Avarado rides down New York's Fifth Avenue in the annual Gay Pride parade June 30, 1996.

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Comments

[wonketteRAWKS]

Fem to butch, we are all brothers and sisters.

[LintLass]

Gotta love, too, how one among "Some Of the Craziest Outfits We've Seen *over the years*" includes....

Women on motorcycles.

I just don't know if the community can get behind that. :) What does it say? :)

[dennissinned]

This is just this website's way of pulling more righ -twingers over to their website. They wanna be fair and balanced too. lol

[LintLass]

Cause obviously, their bigotry is *our* fault because we confronted it.

[flacon]

I am a straight man on the side of most gay goals. How can these people not be viewed as the freaks they are?

They reinforce every negative stereotype. Time to shut them down.

[jbrantow]

So what's your complaint about mardi gras where everyone...gay and straight dress in crazy exotic costumes. Do you also cast an "impression" of the straights in that celebration. Live and let live. If you don't want to dress up crazy for one day out of 365, than stay in your suit or cargo pants and polo shirt.

[Quaoar]

One day out of 365, and usually held on the weekend. Blink and you'll miss it. Most of the people who are offended by these parades are actively looking for something to be offended by.

[LintLass]

Actually, you're the one claiming 'those freaks' are the *cause* of 'every negative stereotype,' when in fact, they're *taking some control* of the 'negative stereotypes' that have always existed, anyway.

We're all of us *called* these 'negative stereotypes, whether we 'behave' 24/7 or not. Some people will do it anyway, and they don't need 'proof' to do it. In fact, when they try to say that things are sinister and shameful, they can demonize it. People come see a Pride parade, they don't see a dissociated video clip and polemic about 'what it means, these are what LBGT people are,' ...they in fact also see the thousands upon thousands of 'normal-looking' people all around. Just having some fun and being visible.

They don't have to 'worry' about who's secretly a drag queen, cause the drag queens are right up front. :) Does a lot more good than 'harm.' Those looking for something to be 'offended' about are just going to find another triviality, even if we all marched in burlap sacks.

The real problems are stereotypes in the *media,* ...lack of too many positive and 'ordinary' LBGT characters that aren't there just *to* be LBGT people.

You're the one reinforcing the idea there's even something inherently negative about not 'acting straight' *all the time.*

"Time to shut those freaks down?"

Who's next, in the LBGT community, once you 'shut down' one group cause someone took a parade float too seriously?

[LintLass]

And how do you propose this 'shutting down' be done?

Where do you propose this 'shutting down' would stop?

Who decides? You? Me? Siberian?

Do you believe it'd *really* stop there?

[LintLass]

Also, people *acting out* a stereotype, often humorously, doesn't mean they are at fault when someone *uses* the stereotype as proof of the righteousness of the stereotype.

If that were so, any Fundie *could* just put on a dress and act ugly ...and claim *that* is the entire life of a minority. And they would. They'd probably enjoy it, one way or another.

[pandathumb]

As a gay man who grew up in South Dakota, I take unapologetic delight in the outrageous fun that is part of NYPride. As a teen, I embodied what many profess to want from LGBT folks: a normal-looking, straight-acting representative of normalcy. I played the part, dated the opposite sex and lied my way through childhood. A force-fed diet of straightness was all I knew: Church, prom, weddings, TV.

There was one guy in my class who didn't have it so easy. He didn't pass as normal and fit gay stereotypes. He payed dearly: Bullying and bruises were his norm, thanks to those who felt the need to beat their view of acceptability into him. He had to survive in his truth and hope he made it to graduation.

I now have a rather 'normal' life and can safely hold my boyfriend's hand while walking down the street. (Most of the time.) Never forgetting South Dakota, I frequently wonder if a world is possible where EVERYONE is safe to walk down the street without scorn or contempt. And, when I see a fabulous, in-your-face drag queen, proudly parading down 5th Avenue, I think that perhaps that world is possible. It takes all sorts to make life interesting.

For those of you who have not walked in another man's stilettos, back off a bit. Do you really want a world of intolerable normalcy? Lighten up! Kick up your combat boots and have a little fun.

[cloudmaker]

As a gay man, I have never understood gay pride parades. They seem to be the opposite of pride.
What they say is we want to show ourselves as outrageous, over-sexed, hedonistic, narcissistic
sometimes drag queens who are in your face and eager to offend you as much as possible for
not allowing us to be the people that we are in these silly parades. What straight people may
not know is that most gay men, at least, are hard-working, average people who wouldn't be interested
in going to one of these parades,much less wearing an evening gown, beehive wig, leather jockstrap
or other cliche getup like the ever-popular nun's habit. It has nothing to do with being ashamed of being
gay. But we're not more proud of being gay than straight people should be of being straight. I, for one,
would much rather be proud of things I chose for myself not what fate chose for me.

[LintLass]

Yaknow, see my post below. If you comply and try to make everyone dress and act 'normal' they'll still try and come into your life and claim you need to be *celibate,* anyway.

To be honest, I didn't get it for a while, either. Drag queens and transvestites sure don't do much to help the 'image' of the transgendered kids that are a particular concern of mine. But... Those kids don't look like that, anyway. They get treated as if they do whether they've ever so much as worn a pair of flats or not.

Straight people don't get treated as though their parties and parades reflect their daily lives, why should 'we' even validate the notion?

Most of us, the vast majority, *do* live ordinary lives, apart from the totally-un­called-for­-grief that has existed since long before there was any such thing as a pride parade, and in fact was much worse.

Like I said, now we can be, 'OK, now you've seen it.'

Beats the kind of notions that lurk in the shadows of closets, any day.

[jbrantow]

You are seriously in need of psychotherapy if you're really gay. Self hatred is detrimental to your health. Chicago gay pride parade is the largest in the city pulling 500.000 people from all over the city. It's a fun party. gay, straight, politicians, families with kids...everyone enjoys it. For many closeted and repressed people it's the one day for them that they can be whatever they want and no one condemns them. If you don't like it....stay locked deep in your self hating life and don't participate. But...in chicago five hundred thousand people cannot be wrong.

[SiberianRat]

As a fellow gay Chicagoan, I'd like to invite you to mind your own freakin business! I don't enjoy the Chicago parades either and it doesn't mean I hate myself. You can stay locked deep in your hating-and-judging others life--you're a typical intolerant member of the "community" which doesn't represent all of us.

[SiberianRat]

YES!!!! My feelings exactly! I get nailed on this site regularly for such comments and you're already being accused of self-hating (the usual label for those of us who don't base every aspect of our lives on being gay). I agree with you, and you've got a fan now in Siberia...

[cloudmaker]

Thanks so much Siberia. How sad these attackers are. Frankly,rather than self-hating, I
think I'm rather wonderful and so do my friends. For instance, I don't write responses
assaulting those with differing opinions. I'm not interesting in raining on anyone's parade,
I just don't feel the need to attend.

[LintLass]

Silence will not protect you.

Particularly not acting excessively-ashamed of *others.*

If you don't want to be thought of as a 'queen,' what's more convincing: "Oh, no, no, that'd be shameful, people shouldn't be seen to act like that?"

Or: "Oh, that's some fun, mostly. You know me, if I were doing that sort of thing, you'd know it."

Hrm?

Acting like some things are 'to be hidden out of shame' only begs the question what *you* might be hiding.

[LintLass]

Just to amplify, a bit: the problem isn't drag queens. The problem is that some dehumanize all of us to the extent that, whoever we are, all they see when they look at you is a picture of a drag queen, anyway.

I don't throw gay men under the bus when people accuse *lesbians* of spreading AIDS of for some reason look at me and my girlfriend and tell me how much their Bible hates men having certain kinds of sex... (Though it does point out a certain contradiction in a lot of their arguments, of course.)

The only logic to anti-gay agendas is that they're anti gay.

[jbrantow]

from the many pro gay celebration responses....it appears siberian RAT and cloudmaker (what an appropriate name for both of you) are in the minority. So stay in your "gay is only a small part of what I am" closets. Don't come out until after pride sunday...please!

[Quislet]

How about being proud of being true to yourself and the world in the face of terrific social pressure to be something you are not?

[Quislet]

PS: I am gay and have not been to a Gay Pride parade in years. That doesn't mean I don't see how people want and need them.

[jbrantow]

Intelligence and reasoning....it so refreshing after reading comments from siberianRAT and Cloudmaker. Thanks

[LintLass]

It's kind of part of the *point* of Pride, really. Homophobes are going to call us all kinds of names *anyway,* ...and make it all scarier than it is ...when it's *unknown.* So *what* if a gay dude wears a Tinkerbell dress and dances around in some gossamer wings? ...that's what people say *anyway*.

OK, now you've seen it. Was it everything you hoped and feared? Did the sky fall?

Why is this *not fun?* Why is this a source of *fear* or an excuse to harden your hearts against the 'regular queer folk'? Why is this even *in the same realm, * never mind a "justification" for injustices about about very sensible, mundane, ...almost boring, and important practical injustices that *really* degrade our nation cause you think a little glitter is a good reason to dehumanize a whole *class* of people?

Do you really think homophobes'll treat us better if we go back to 'behaving' ...as in *hiding?*

I'm no kind of flamboyant, not sure what I'd be flamboyant *about,* really, not butch enough to fire up a Harley, if my dearest one would let me ride, anyway, ..

Still. Really. The parade's not for the greyfaces that'll use whatever they can caption 'scaryugly,' even if they have to *invent* it. ....it's for *us,* and to banish *fear,* and maybe let some folks get over it enough that we can all live together. What's the big deal? It's no big deal.

Can be F'n 'fabulous,' though. ;)

[LintLass]

There's even kind of a *point* to a lot of it being kind of *ridiculous.* LBGT people, we do often fear *ridicule,* cause we know what comes with it. If we put on the clown suit for a day, even, *we* take control of that. And people who *see* that clowning, too, see that they've hated and feared... Something from the shadows that turns out to be... ridiculous. Like a clown mask in shadows.

The hatred and fear, ....are ridiculous, too. And seeing past *that,* people can see just how many of their neighbors are... Just their LBGT neighbors, that whole mass of people they didn't believe existed.

[LintLass]

Besides, there's also always some homphobic preachers with megaphones willing to put on *their* scary masks and signs and take it *all too seriously.*

That's ridiculous, too, though they don't get the joke, themselves.

[LintLass]

How many photos of people dressed 'funny' and dancing does it take for people to realize that that's all that is?

[AnimalsRTasty]

I have to say, I work with gay folks. I have some gay folks I would call friends. We joke about gay and straight off topic matters. I dont offend them and they dont offend me.... Now for the contraversial part with that out of the way....

You dont see me holding a straight parade. I guess I am just tired of the parade of gay folks. I realize that before when being gay was a huge stigma that it felt liberating to have a gay pride parade. But with todays views I have to ask..."Who cares your gay and proud?" I am proud to be straight but you dont see me rubbing it in. Have private parties and such. Parades on the streets should be for real holidays and celebrations. Being gay isnt any more valid than being straight. I think any adult should be free to explore their sexuality privately as long as it is with consenting adults. Is it a gay adjenda to constantly throw it in everyones face to try to "sell" the gay lifestyle? I mean do you really want kids, teens and straight adults to turn gay? I think in most major cities you are accepted. Small towns are probably still problematic.... maybe that is where you should concentrate your parades.

About 89% or more of us are straight shouldnt we have 8-9 times more parades with our own symbol? And what can our straight parade use as a symbol?

[PlaceboStudman]

"Being gay isnt any more valid than being straight"

Reverse that and tell that to Rick Warren and The Pope and their minions

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Straigh parades are shown every time there is any parade, concert, sport, etc. Every parade has symbols of heterosexuality. Not 89%; but 100%.

Is it the agenda of heteros to throw the hetero lifestyle in people's faces and to "sell" the hetero lifestyle of adultery, molestation, pedophilia, etc. in people's faces.

For a person who claims to know gay people, you really need to spend some time informing yourself.

[goodog]

"You don't see me holding a straight parade. "

I'll remember that the next time I see another Just Married car rattling down the road with streamers, paint, and beer cans proclaiming what's just happened: the procession down the sidewalk on the way to the car.

Straight people through parades for themselves constantly, and the bridesmaids will telly you, it ISn't always pretty.

Pages and pages of marriage announcements in the papers, full of people dressed in specifically funny clothing expressing their pride in what they're doing... mating. How DARE they!

And... you knoooow... if straight people kept this public celebration in the bedroom where it belongs, gay people probably wouldn't be clamoring to join in on all the fun.

[AnimalsRTasty]

Weddings...thats not a parade full of strangers, thats friends and family and it wont go down main street.

I dont see how you all can justify shoving Gay Pride down everyones throats by saying regular holiday parades are "hetero" parades. It doesnt compute.

I agree with you about the pope and organized religion. I have grown up to dislike religion. I cant say I hate it because where would society be without it? Would it really be like John Lennon's song? Unfortunately religion has tought us values as young children. (I think there is better ways to spread values however) It is from the bible and probably every other religious doctrine the goldent rule of "do unto others as you would have done unto yourself". I think Jesus would have tolerated homosexuality. I think Jesus could and has helped us out a lot(much better than the Old Testament). With that said I do not believe in god, I think its ok to be gay.(as if you needed me to validate that heh).

Here is the thing.... Homosexuality has been around since mans evolved. It has had some high times also in culture. Sodom and Gamorrah, Rome, Greece and many others homosextuality was prevailent. If you want it to be accepted in society then I would suggest less shoving it down everyones throats and more live by example.
god I had to chop up thos post... sorry

[LintLass]

Mardi Gras.

Spring Break.

[AnimalsRTasty]

are enjoyed by Gay and Straight alike are they not?

[Quislet]

"I am proud to be straight but you dont see me rubbing it in."

You specifically might not be rubbing it in, but society does. I bet on a random channel I could find 20 examples of heterosexuality on TV before you could find one of homosexuality. In political campaigns much attention is made of the candidate's opposite sex spouse. Fairy tales told to cildren are filled with heterosexuality.

And even today people assume you are heterosexual unless you tell them you are gay. That alone makes Gay Pride parades still a need thing.

[LintLass]

Yeah, like straight men never hit on lesbians. :)

[BlackYowe]

Gay parades like this are why so many straight people have a hard time taking Gay activisim seriously. Maybe its time to follow Martin Luther King Jr.'s example and show the face of dignity not frivolity. It is after all the comparison Gay activists keep evoking that they are the same as oppressed African Americans. When was the last time you saw an African American event where people dressed up as giant male organs?

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Amen to that. People need to exercise some restraint. Definitely celebrate pride, but also celebrate normalcy.

[LintLass]

Err, Pride parades are *full* of people celebrating 'normalcy.'

The coverage by homophobes is like people taking a few select shots of the Easter Parade and saying, 'Look, they're all dressed like rabbits and Holly Hobbie! Why aren't there normal ones?'

[jbrantow]

Normal to who......get a dictionary­.......nor­mal does not equate to majority

[LintLass]

I guess if people look at your civil rights and all they can see is male organs, you may as well give em a great big one. :)

[LintLass]

Besides. Realize, that no matter how 'conformist' 'the community' manages to be, then the 'phobes' will just find more and more trivial things to try and 'cut a few of us from the herd' over...

so they can then claim that 'See,even you gays you all accepted they were freaks, so we were right to hurt *them,* ....Now... Let's see about re-criminalizing 'those types' who have homosexual PDA's... Don't want to be one of those 'bad gays,' do you? Great... That done, let's see... who You... What kind of tie is that, for a man? You, stop assaulting our values by wearing that cut of jacket, missy,' .... .

We may as well keep practicing holding together. Throwing a few to the wolves really doesn't help.

[jbrantow]

are you willing to tell all "hip hop" artists to stop creating and singing because some racists see that as "gangsta" stereotypes? Diversity is what makes this world livable.

[SiberianRat]

It's true. I'm gay, and I agree. I don't really care--these people can do whatever they want. However, they shouldn't then complain when more conservative people don't accept their behavior as being something they can relate to. My mother asked me once to explain the parades--I told her she was asking the wrong homo. I'm not proud to be gay. Seems weird--like saying I'm proud to have green eyes. It's one of many aspects of "me" on this earth.

[LintLass]

Sometimes you need to show you're as proud of yourself as straight people are whenever they act like the whole point of life for anyone is *the ability to breed.*

Pride is necessary when people try to make you live in *shame* just for existing.

People that are *left-handed* kind of had to go through this. (Not quite with the same intensity level, of course. I wonder if they scorned the ambidextrous for being 'uncommitted,' though. :) )

People with red hair were scorned, too, they didn't have some redheads telling other redheads, 'You'd better not be *that* redheaded, or we're all sunk. Cover the freckles, too."

[LintLass]

I mean, you *do* realize that green eyes were once considered a possible sign you were Faery-touched (in the old folkloric sense, ) ...and under Christianity it got turned around to mean you weren't a 'real' child, but a 'changeling,' (ie, possibly demonic) ....about which the 'proper procedure ' would be to mistreat you so badly that the Faeries would bring the *real* child back?

It's just kind of funny to me you bring up that example.

[noamjunior]

didn't they already have this on tax day?

[PlaceboStudman]

I'm asssuming that none of you who are criticizing this gay pride have ever been to a Mardi Gras celebraiton or Carnivale celebration cause then I gotta ask the obvious question


What's the freaking difference? why is that acceptable and not this??

[MaxInAZ]

Because Mardi Gras is the "goodbye to sex" before the long period of Lent.

Are we laying off the sex after the Parade, or going back to same old, same old?

[LintLass]

So.... As long as those outrageous public displays of heterosexuality are a *compensation for temporary celibacy which is not practiced,* it's 'entirely different' as regards the notion of whether or not it reflects on the nature or character of straight people, ....as opposed to straight people being able to say whatever they like about all gays anywhere.... if they see a couple clips of the most ''outrageous' few among a Pride parade of thousands?

Ie, it's 'ok when straights do it,' but straights can say whatever they like about any LBGT person and blame it on them for... having the temerity to be of the same a minority group with a fan-dancer?

Or, Straights can have all the orgiastic public displays they'd like as long as it's in the name of sexual repression?

Still not following, here. :)

[jbrantow]

yea I'm sure all those people partying stay celibate after mardi gras....Wanna buy a bridge to nowhere?

[BlackYowe]

Mardi Gras has become so commercial it has almost nothing to do with lent as it once did. No one calls it anything but a big party, no one is trying to make a point.

[PlaceboStudman]

Most of the people featured at gay pride parades are there for a big party and arent trying to make a point anymore either. It's a celebration no different than Mardi Gras celebrating Catholicism or carnivale celebrating latino heritage

at least that's my narrow perspective on things. Flamboyance is flamboyance whether it's gay pride or Mardi Gras and Carnivale, and frankly these days the celebrants at one or the other are pretty much interchangeable

[We-Are-The-Ones]

LGBT are a minority, seeking equal rights. Not so for Mardi Gra or Carnivale.

People are looking for excuses to label LGBT irreconcilable "other." This type of exhibitionism justifies and encourages that label.

The Problem: How to celebrate pride while not giving people an excuse to say LGBT are so different that they deserve fewer rights?

[PlaceboStudman]

well for one thing, you separate celebrating pride with progressing an agenda of rights. You confront those who believe we don't deserve rights, ask them why, challenge their beliefs, and ask them why the man in a business suit Monday through Friday has more legitimate claim to more rights than the same man wearing nothing but a a gold lame G-string Friday through Sunday, because one of those rights SHOULD be to wear the business suit and the G-string when it suits the situation and not be judged for either

[BlackYowe]

Can you imagine a Black pride parade where they self-stereotyped like this? What if they dressed up like primative tribesmen with a white missionary in a big kettle, LOL?

[wonketteRAWKS]

Justifies? Sounds more like "don't be who you are" just to appease the bigots!

And this is the Pride Parade...expect the unexpected dude!

Oy, the excuses!

[cloudmaker]

For the most part, Mardi Gras is gay parade.

[Kelly Laraia]

If you are trying to advance the cause of gay rights and gay marraige, this stuff doesn't help. Don't give the other side ammo to use against you. Want to be taken seriously, tone it down.

[noamjunior]

if YOU want to be taken seriously- tone down your repression of free speech

[MaxInAZ]

Oh, please. Kelly's not knocking free speech, just offering the very good suggestion that dancing around in feather boas might not have the same impact as MLK's march on Washington.

[helonias]

At least they are not staggering drunk and peeing everywhere like at a Mummers Parade

[GDUS]

It is NYC and they could pull only Two non-white folks. Where are those advocates who claimed that this mania comes in all colors?

LMAO!

[LintLass]

Err, would you like to see more pictures of LBGT people of color? Perhaps the dead?

[wonketteRAWKS]

Folks? 0, is that you?