New York – The always-colorful New York gay pride parade, which commemorates
the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn credited with sparking the modern gay
rights movement, was led this year by Stonewall veterans in drag riding behind
a rainbow of balloons stretched across Fifth Avenue.
Many activists pointed to passage of a hate-crimes bill in Albany and a Vermont
law that allows same-sex civil unions.
It is significant year, said lesbian activist and former White House aide
Virginia Appuzzo, one of the Heritage of Pride Parades grand marshals. The
changes have been dazzling.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani marched with the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay GOP group,
while Hillary Rodham Clinton stepped off with a group of openly gay elected
officials. Her opponent in the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, spent the day
campaigning upstate.
Supporters shouted You look gorgeous and We love you, Mrs. Clinton as the First
Lady joined the parade accompanied by State Sen. Tom Duane, City Councilmember
Christine Quinn and other officials.
This year, because of the hate crimes bill In New York and the civil union law
in Vermont, its a year we can look back on and say theres been some progress,
she told reporters. Im pleased to be here on behalf of equal rights for gays
and lesbians.
Giuliani refused to criticize the man who replaced him as the go-ahead
Republican Senate candidate. “Schedules are very, very difficult when you run
for office,” the mayor said. “I remember people feeling very, very insulted
when I didnt show up for this parade or that.”
There were scattered protesters, who held a signs that said, Sodomy is a crime.
What you do behind closed doors if fine, said one protester, but to publicly
display sexual conduct is a disgrace.
Meanwhile in Albany, New Yorks state Legislature passed a bill last week to
toughen penalties for hate crimes including those targeting gays.
