'I had to do a lot of convincing my friends that no, absolutely this year, this is the time that we need to go,' Aja Faranda told the outlet. Some attendees reported that they were scared to come to the rally this year in the wake of such hatred and violence towards their community. 'Now, while the world is watching, it is our time to show how love will conquer hate.'īahrami asked everyone to turn to the person next to them and give them a hug.
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We will not allow evil to prevail,' Poma told the crowd, according to CBS New York. 'I’m here today because I want you to know that Orlando and the world’s gay community are strong and united. There was a moment of silence as the names of all 49 victims flashed on a screen. The owner of Pulse, Barbara Poma, and the club's entertainment manager, Neema Bahrami, were honored guests at the rally.Īttendees were orange bandanas as they enter the event to show solidarity with the Pulse victims and their families and the movement to end gun violence. People dressed in drag are seen walking in the annual NYC Drag March in the East Village of Manhattan on Friday - the march was especially important this year because gay mecca Stonewall Inn was declared a national monument The march, which started in Tompkins Square Park, eneded at the Stonewall Inn, which became the first national monument dedicated to gay rights Unique and colorful outfits abounds during the Drag March, including this man with a flower and butterfly hat The Gay Pride rally and Drag March on Friday were both poignant and momentous this year, not only celebratory but tragic, as it comes on the heels of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando
'We have an obligation to our nation in the wake of Orlando to show what pride and inclusion looks like,' Mayor Bill de Blasio said, adding that the New York Police Department upped security at several locations out of caution, according to The Daily Beast. While the iconic Stonewall Inn was just named a national monument by President Obama, the gay community is still in mourning the loss of 49 innocent lives in the Orlando massacre at gay club Pulse. Tens of thousands of people descended upon New York City on Friday for the annual Gay Pride Rally and Drag March, and probably no gay pride celebration before has been such a bittersweet mixture of celebration and devastation.
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