The first New York Pride March was held in 1970, one year after the legendary Stonewall Riots began the modern gay rights movement. Over the years the March has become a celebration of our community, our lives, the fight against AIDS, as well as a remembrance for the movers and shakers who paved the way for equality along the road. Heritage of Pride, the organizers of NYC Pride and the annual New York City Pride March celebrated the 45th anniversary of the historic event this past week with roughly a million participants. The 2014 grand marshals included Laverne Cox, Jonathan Groff, and Rea Carey from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Out WWE Superstar Darren Young rode with Ross Murray and representatives from GLAAD while last year’s Grand Marshal, Edie Windsor marched in the parade with sage. The 2014 NYC Pride theme We Have Won When We’re One acknowledges the ongoing equality-seeking efforts throughout the United States and the world. The grand marshals rode in convertibles along a two-mile route from Midtown Manhattan at 36th and Fifth Avenue ending up just past the Stonewall Inn in the West Village.
After the celebration the crowd moved to the 20th Anniversary PrideFest, a LGBT street fair that featured booths by Kiehl’s, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Illy, Zip Car and Divers/Cité.
Photography by Jeffrey James Keyes
Laverne Cox
Darren Young
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio & Family
Cast of FYI Network’s B.O.R.N. to Style
Edie Windsor
Marcie Bianco and Merryn Johns
Matt W. Cody, Adam Hostler, Jean-Paul Morales, & Gabriel Calderon