Volume 22, Number 08 | The Newspaper of Lower Manhattan | July 3 - 9, 2009

Downtown Express photos by Talisman Brolin

On Stonewall’s 40th, the Pride’s stronger than ever
With the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which paved the way for gay rights in America and worldwide, the feeling of pride was especially high at Sunday’s Gay Pride March. Thousands of onlookers cheered floats pumping out disco grooves and draped with gyrating dancers, local church and social service groups, parents of gays and lesbians, gay volleyball and rugby teams tossing their balls, men in bondage gear, drag queens, gay veterans and a drag Michael Jackson, just to name a few. As usual, many politicians, particularly those running for office, joined the march, the grand marshal of which this year was Governor David Paterson, in honor of his support for gay marriage.