By: EFE Posted Jun 25, 2023, 17:57 pm EDT
The governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, signed this Sunday in the framework of the LGBTQ+ Pride parade a legislation that establishes the state as a “safe haven” for trans youth.
The Democrat noted in a speech at the start of the march that so far this year other conservative state governments “have introduced more than 500 anti-LGBTQ laws,” which she called “injustice.”
“We are going to make New York a safe haven for trans youth across the country,” Hochul said.
The law the Governor signed today ensures that New York will protect trans youth, their parents, and their doctors.
“Strength in solidarity”
For his part, actor and singer Billy Porter, who was in charge of leading the Gay Pride March this year, said that, despite the progress that has been made in recent decades for the LGBTQ+ community, now it is seen in the US “a sick and malicious effort to push back those victims”.
“Governors Ron DeSantis (Florida) and Greg Abbott (Texas) don’t even want us to say the word gay (in schools), they want to deny gender-affirming health care to transgender youth, and they want to criminalize parents and doctors who they just want to help the children,” Porter explained to highlight the importance of New York becoming a refuge for these people.
The official theme for New York City Pride this year is “Strength in Solidarity”a reminder that Pride was born as a protest movement against intolerance wherever it manifests itself.
The origin of this march, which is now celebrated worldwide, was due to the Stonewall riots in New York, a police raid that took place at dawn on June 28, 1969. in that place of reference for the gay community.
This conflict lit the fuse of the fight for the rights of the collective, since on June 28, 1970 the first Pride marches took place in New York and Los Angeles in commemoration of the first anniversary of the riots.
a tourist attraction
Today the streets that surround this mythical bar are packed with both New Yorkers and national and international tourists.
Anthony Walentukonis traveled from Connecticut, the border state, to show his support for the community and explained that he has been coming to New York Pride for more than a decade.
“Before it was less crowded and it was a lot of fun. Now there are a lot more people, but it is still a lot of fun, ”she noted.
Another thing that has changed compared to other years is the number of street vendors that sell all kinds of paraphernalia: giant fans, rainbow flags of all sizes, face paint, food and lots of booze.
Priscilla Álvarez pointed out that, despite not having the permits to sell jello shots with tequila – three for 10 dollars – on the street and that the area is full of police officers, she is not afraid of being fined. “The Police no longer have much right to do something against us”, she qualified her.
Álvarez has grown up in the Big Apple and this is the first time both selling her products on the street and attending the Pride parade.
“All my friends are from the community and I came to support and make a little money to pay the rent,” he stressed.