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(New York City) North America's four largest LGBT communities celebrated gay pride on Sunday with parades focused on same-sex marriage.
In New York a steady downpour failed to dampen spirits or the resolve to attain equal marriage rights. The issue of gay marriage was argued last month before the state's highest court and a ruling could come at any time.
Just before the parade began Empire State Pride Agenda the largest LGBT civil rights group in New York announced its endorsement of Eliot Spitzer for Governor.
"He supports marriage equality for our families; he understands that there is no place in New York State for discrimination against transgender people; he believes that all youth, including LGBT youth, should be safe from bias harassment in our schools; and he believes the state should provide support to programs that address the long-standing health and human services needs of our community," said Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle.
The issue of growing incidents of violence against gays was also highlighted in the parade. Kevin Aviance drew wild cheers from the crowds along Fifth Avenue.
The singer, appearing in drag, had his mouth unwired for the parade. Earlier his month his jaw was broken in a homophobic attack in the East Village. The wires will be reattached tomorrow.
Four young men have been charged with hate crimes in connection with the beating.
A cool breeze blew over Market Street as Dykes On Bikes led off San Francisco's Pride parade.
Tens of thousands lined the street from the Embarcadero to Civic Center to watch as drag queens, leather men and muscle boys moved to the beat of music blaring from sound trucks.
Same-sex marriage is likely to reach the California Supreme Court next year.
Marchers from Bay Area GSAs carried signs reading "If you don't want a gay marriage, don't get one."
But for many in the parade it was bittersweet - celebrating gay liberation while at the same time remembering loved ones and friends who have died of AIDS. This year is the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic.
In Toronto organizers of Canada's biggest pride parade estimated that about 1.2 million people lined Yonge Street for the march.
The city's gay community sees the parade as a "shot across the bow" of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government which will hold a vote this fall on reopening the debate on gay marriage. The Conservatives hope to get enough votes to introduce a bill repealing same-sex marriage in Canada.
Polls show the public does not want the issue revisited and the opposition parties are opposed to amending the law.
Toronto's city clerk's office was busy all weekend processing marriage licenses for gay couples - mostly from the US. With no waiting time couples picked up their licenses and immediately married.
Tens of thousands of people lined up to watch Chicago's Gay Pride Parade. The highlight was local teams who will compete in this summer's Gay Games. Chicago is the host city for the games this year.
Marchers also denounced an attempt by a conservative group to force a referendum on gay marriage. The vote would only call on lawmakers to start the ball rolling on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage but opponents say they intend to fight it.
Crowds were estimated at about a half million people as the parade headed north on Halsted to Broadway, south on Broadway to Diversey, and east on Diversey to Canon Drive.
Chicago's pride parade is the second largest parade in the city behind the Bud Billiken parade.
At least a dozen other cities also celebrated pride on Sunday.
©365Gay.com 2006
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