Parade participants celebrate New York City Pride on June 27, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) - New York City's annual LGBTQ Pride went ahead virtually again due to the pandemic Sunday, though demonstrators and celebrators were still making their presence felt around the city.
The main New York City Pride parade, which usually draws throngs of participants and spectators, was presented as a television broadcast special, since now-lifted pandemic restrictions were still in effect at the time it was being planned.
That didn't deter throngs from gathering in person on Sunday afternoon for PrideFest, a street fair with vendors, food and entertainment in Manhattan. A dance party was planned for Herald Square and fireworks, music and food were prepared for Pier 45 in Hudson River Park.
Sean Gannon from Maplewood, New Jersey, attended with his husband and two 3-year-old sons.
"It’s such an important thing for them to see that they have two dads and that there are other people that have two moms, two dads, single dads, single moms," Gannon told WCBS Radio. "There are all different ways that families are made up, so it’s really awesome to be able to share this experience with them today."
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No progress between NYC Pride, NYPD
Relations between the organizers of NYC Pride and the NYPD are still frozen, with NYPD officers banned from participating in official Pride events this weekend.
For people looking to march for LGBTQ rights, the Reclaim Pride Coalition held its third Queer Liberation March from Bryant Park to the Stonewall National Monument and into Washington Square Park. The liberation march event does not allow police or corporate participation.
New York City's gay pride parades began in 1970 to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, which started after a police raid on a Manhattan gay bar.
The Stonewall Inn is still there, now under different owners.