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New York leads way as Pride marches mark 50 years since Stonewall – live New York leads way as Pride marches mark 50 years since Stonewall – live
(32 minutes later)
Decades before Stonewall, New York was home to a remarkable cultural exchange, as Michael Henry Adams writes for the Guardian today. For black Harlemites visiting Britain, and for Brits visiting Harlem in return, “an LGBTQ identity could sometimes, just sometimes, act like a remarkable passport”.
Harlem in the 1920s and 30s was a bohemian destination, drawing the likes of Douglas Byng, Lady Louis Mountbatten, and Cary Grant. But all was not well…
We've been to a marvelous party: when gay Harlem met queer Britain
Back in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo marked the day by outlawing the “gay and trans panic legal defense”.
Previously, Cuomo’s office said, those accused of violent crimes against LGBTQ people could seek a less severe sentence or even avoid conviction “by placing the blame on a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity”.
“The gay and trans panic defense is essentially a codification of homophobia and transphobia and it is repugnant to our values of equality and inclusion,” Cuomo said in the statement. “This defense strategy isn’t just offensive – it also sends a dangerous message that violence toward LGBTQ people is somehow OK.
“It’s not, and today we’re sending this noxious legal tool to the dustbin of history where it belongs.”
Read Victoria Bekiempis’s full report:
New York leads Pride parades as LGBTQ activists debate state of movement
After about a half-hour stoppage, the San Francisco parade has begun again.After about a half-hour stoppage, the San Francisco parade has begun again.
Demonstrators call for an end to policing of the parade (note: this video contains strong language).Demonstrators call for an end to policing of the parade (note: this video contains strong language).
Protesters making demands at Pride Parade: requesting no police and no corporations at Pride pic.twitter.com/ukzWkqeuyrProtesters making demands at Pride Parade: requesting no police and no corporations at Pride pic.twitter.com/ukzWkqeuyr
At least one demonstrator appears to have been arrested in San Francisco, according to the Chronicle, which notes that the parade is facing a backup while protesters join arms through rainbow-colored tubing.At least one demonstrator appears to have been arrested in San Francisco, according to the Chronicle, which notes that the parade is facing a backup while protesters join arms through rainbow-colored tubing.
Those concerns over police are in the spotlight as demonstrators block parts of the parade route in San Francisco:Those concerns over police are in the spotlight as demonstrators block parts of the parade route in San Francisco:
Breaking: Demonstrators protesting police in #SFPride Parade block route near Market and Taylor pic.twitter.com/5y8XFFOlTLBreaking: Demonstrators protesting police in #SFPride Parade block route near Market and Taylor pic.twitter.com/5y8XFFOlTL
“We will not rest until we have a pride free from police and toxic corporations that do not support our communities,” says a letter from the demonstrators, noting that policing “upholds white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, gender binaries and capitalist rule”. They call for the release of trans people held in the SF jail; the centering of marginalized black and brown trans women; an end to harassment of homeless people; and improved accessibility for disabled people, among other concerns.“We will not rest until we have a pride free from police and toxic corporations that do not support our communities,” says a letter from the demonstrators, noting that policing “upholds white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, gender binaries and capitalist rule”. They call for the release of trans people held in the SF jail; the centering of marginalized black and brown trans women; an end to harassment of homeless people; and improved accessibility for disabled people, among other concerns.
Breaking: Demonstrators protesting police in #SFPride Parade block route near Market and Taylor pic.twitter.com/5y8XFFOlTLBreaking: Demonstrators protesting police in #SFPride Parade block route near Market and Taylor pic.twitter.com/5y8XFFOlTL
Kamala Harris, California senator and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, greeted another prominent California Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, before the parade this morning.Kamala Harris, California senator and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, greeted another prominent California Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, before the parade this morning.
To deafening cheers, ⁦@KamalaHarris⁩ greets ⁦@SpeakerPelosi⁩ at #PRIDE in SF pic.twitter.com/knw8WBRa6rTo deafening cheers, ⁦@KamalaHarris⁩ greets ⁦@SpeakerPelosi⁩ at #PRIDE in SF pic.twitter.com/knw8WBRa6r
“We remember those who marched at Stonewall,” Harris said, according to the San Francisco Examiner. “We remember those who marched on Polk street in the first Pride parade.”“We remember those who marched at Stonewall,” Harris said, according to the San Francisco Examiner. “We remember those who marched on Polk street in the first Pride parade.”
"We need to prosecute the case against four more years of Donald Trump!" @KamalaHarris tore into @realDonaldTrump's "rap sheet" against LGBTQ cmty at an #SFPride #Pride2019 breakfast this morning, including banning trans people from serving, silence on hate crimes, & more. pic.twitter.com/V8Yg9XEsgr"We need to prosecute the case against four more years of Donald Trump!" @KamalaHarris tore into @realDonaldTrump's "rap sheet" against LGBTQ cmty at an #SFPride #Pride2019 breakfast this morning, including banning trans people from serving, silence on hate crimes, & more. pic.twitter.com/V8Yg9XEsgr
It was the Stonewall clash with police that fueled the modern gay rights movement, and the question of policing has loomed large over Pride marches this year.It was the Stonewall clash with police that fueled the modern gay rights movement, and the question of policing has loomed large over Pride marches this year.
Indya Moore of TV’s Pose, one of the grand marshals of New York’s larger parade, highlighted concerns in a news conference: “I wonder if they’re here to protect us or if they’re here to police us. Maybe to make sure we don’t riot again? I’m not sure.”Indya Moore of TV’s Pose, one of the grand marshals of New York’s larger parade, highlighted concerns in a news conference: “I wonder if they’re here to protect us or if they’re here to police us. Maybe to make sure we don’t riot again? I’m not sure.”
New York’s smaller Queer Liberation March has rejected NYPD policing, opting instead for its own private security. And yesterday’s Dyke March in San Francisco saw firm opposition to police:New York’s smaller Queer Liberation March has rejected NYPD policing, opting instead for its own private security. And yesterday’s Dyke March in San Francisco saw firm opposition to police:
Cops out of Pride protest at SF Dyke March pic.twitter.com/UStYQstPbYCops out of Pride protest at SF Dyke March pic.twitter.com/UStYQstPbY
They’re just a few examples of a broader backlash, as my colleague Sam Levin writes, noting that some activists are skipping San Francisco Pride over concerns it has been co-opted by police and corporations. “The efforts to remove policing from Pride are really efforts to ensure safety for the communities that are there. It’s a protective act. It’s an act of resistance,” Malkia Devich Cyril told the Guardian.They’re just a few examples of a broader backlash, as my colleague Sam Levin writes, noting that some activists are skipping San Francisco Pride over concerns it has been co-opted by police and corporations. “The efforts to remove policing from Pride are really efforts to ensure safety for the communities that are there. It’s a protective act. It’s an act of resistance,” Malkia Devich Cyril told the Guardian.
'Police are a force of terror': the LGBT activists who want cops out of Pride'Police are a force of terror': the LGBT activists who want cops out of Pride
And the parade has begun in San Francisco, longtime cradle of LGBTQ activism. Kicking things off are the celebrated Dykes on Bikes, whose roaring motorcycles set the tone for a festive day.And the parade has begun in San Francisco, longtime cradle of LGBTQ activism. Kicking things off are the celebrated Dykes on Bikes, whose roaring motorcycles set the tone for a festive day.
Chicago’s Pride celebration is under way despite concerns over weather, with crowds expected to reach one million. Leading the event is Lori Lightfoot, the city’s first openly LGBT mayor.Chicago’s Pride celebration is under way despite concerns over weather, with crowds expected to reach one million. Leading the event is Lori Lightfoot, the city’s first openly LGBT mayor.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Pride: “Today is a great day and celebration and I am so humbled to be a part of it.” Reflecting on journey from longshot candidate last year to Chicago’s leader, she said “it feels like I’ve come a long way” and praised the city’s support and optimism pic.twitter.com/6uwdMLfYgMMayor Lori Lightfoot on Pride: “Today is a great day and celebration and I am so humbled to be a part of it.” Reflecting on journey from longshot candidate last year to Chicago’s leader, she said “it feels like I’ve come a long way” and praised the city’s support and optimism pic.twitter.com/6uwdMLfYgM
Today’s events mark 50 years since the Stonewall rebellion, which saw patrons at the Greenwich Village gay bar rise up against police raids. Ed Pilkington tells the story of a moment that changed the gay rights movement:
“Just being gay then was to be a criminal,” said Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt, an artist who lived then as now in Manhattan. “Liberals would say you should be given electroshock treatments which they thought was being nice; conservatives would simply throw you in jail.”
Here’s the piece in full, painting a picture of that night and the movement that followed:
The riot that changed America's gay rights movement forever
While revelers and demonstrators mark the day in New York, activists in Istanbul have faced official opposition and teargas. From the Associated Press:
Activists gathered in Istanbul to promote rights for gay and transgender people Sunday before police dispersed the crowd at a pride event that Turkish authorities had banned for the fifth year.
The rally on a side street to Istanbul’s main pedestrian avenue drew several hundred people, who cheered and waved rainbow flags. Istanbul Pride organizers said the Istanbul governor’s office banned the march from central Taksim district as well as a square designated for demonstrations west of the city.
Police allowed representatives to make a short statement to the media before officers dispersed the crowd with tear gas, blocking the street. Police dogs were also at the scene.
The Istanbul Pride group said it would continue activism to get sexual orientation and gender identity recognized in Turkish laws.
Amnesty International had urged Turkey to lift the “arbitrary ban” on the pride march. It said authorities rejected all suggested locations in the city by deeming the LGBT community “societally objectionable”.
Istanbul had up to 100,000 people attend a pride march in 2014, but police have blocked such marches since.
Though homosexuality has been legal in Turkey for decades, rights groups say discrimination is widespread.
The new mayor of Istanbul told a group of international journalists Friday that any group should be free to demonstrate as long as protests do not disturb the peace.
... And they’re off (in both marches)!
Along with the cast of Pose, the event’s grand marshals include Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, a key activist behind UK Black Pride; the Trevor Project, which offers suicide prevention and crisis intervention support for LGBTQ youth; Monica Helms, the trans activist and US navy veteran who designed the transgender pride flag; and the Gay Liberation Front, the first activist organization formed following the Stonewall uprising.
For those following (or curious about) the Heritage Pride parade route, here’s a map.
The parade has begun, and the mood is jubilant. Among those leading the way are the cast of Pose – the FX TV show about LGBTQ ball culture in the late 20th century – and a car representing the late pioneering activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson.
Stephanie’s Child, a drag queen trio seen on The Voice, is singing an impressive three-part version of the national anthem as events kick off in New York. They’re accompanied by the Talent Unlimited high school theater department.
Joe Biden has sparked a new controversy with comments at a gay rights fundraiser in Seattle. Seeking to highlight progress, he reportedly said that five years ago, if people “made fun of a gay waiter” at a meeting, it would have been tolerated. The idea that such comments were acceptable in 2014 prompted calls of “not in Seattle!”, the Daily Beast noted.
Biden said a businessman making that remark today “would not be invited back”.
My colleague Joanna Walters has a closer look at today’s dueling marches in New York, amid what is likely to be the city’s biggest LGBTQ celebration in history. Supporters of Reclaim Pride, behind a march dubbed the inaugural Queer Liberation March, say the larger event “has become a bloated, over-policed circuit party, stuffed with 150 corporate floats. This does not represent the ‘spirit of Stonewall’ on this 50th anniversary year.”
New York City: dueling Pride marches to mark Stonewall's 50th anniversary
Charles Kaiser, author of The Gay Metropolis and a Guardian contributor, says the tension between the events is healthy. It “has existed in the movement from the very beginning … between a desire to be as fully integrated into the majority of society as possible, and the desire to see the movement as a way to celebrate how different we are.” More on that in Victoria Bekiempis’s news story:
New York leads Pride parade cavalcade with huge LGBTQ celebration
New York’s Heritage Pride parade is due to begin at noon local time. In the meantime, treat yourself to some remarkable photography of LGBTQ pioneers, five decades after Stonewall.
Charles Kaiser reviews the “superb” Love and Resistance: Out of the Closet Into the Stonewall Era for the Guardian: “If you’re curious about what that first march looked like in 1970, or the names and faces of the earliest activists who got us from there to here, there is no better place to start.”
Love and Resistance review: priceless pictures of LGBTQ pioneers
Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of today’s Pride events, centered in New York 50 years after the uprising at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, which led to the modern gay rights movement.
This year, New York is host to WorldPride, marking the first time the event has been held in the US. Organizers have said they expect as many as 4 million people to flock to the city.
New York will see two parades today. The Heritage Pride event will represent nearly 700 organizations – ranging from the cast of the TV show Pose to big corporations – and is expected to draw 150,000 marchers. Hundreds of thousands more are likely to celebrate alongside them as they loop through Manhattan, passing the Stonewall Inn on the way.
A separate parade, meanwhile, will shift the focus from floats to activism. Known alternatively as Reclaim Pride or the first Queer Liberation March, the event will begin at the Stonewall and end in Central Park. “It’s a clash of values. What happened at Stonewall in 1969 changed my life and we’re going to take that spirit into this new century. There’ll be no sponsors, no uniformed police, no floats,” the organizer Bill Dobbs told the Guardian’s Joanna Walters.
Cities around the US and the world are joining New York in celebration this weekend, with events in San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle and stretching across the world from Mexico to Europe to India.