By Howard Koplowitz
From the flamboyant to the restrained, hundreds lined up along 37th Avenue Sunday in Jackson Heights to exhibit gay pride and push for Albany to pass marriage equality during the Queens Pride Parade.
Featuring a man in a turquoise−sequined Lady Liberty costume, male roller−bladers in short−shorts and black tank tops and floats blasting Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson, the parade’s political overtones were blatant as the gay marriage issue has been gaining visibility.
Gov. David Paterson is trying to push gay marriage through the state Legislature, but it is unclear whether it will pass with only 20 of 62 state senators publicly saying they support it, according to a survey conducted by news channel NY1.
“Let’s hear it for gay pride in Queens, New York!” shouted U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D−Forest Hills), one of the parade’s grand marshals, through a megaphone. “Let’s hear it for marriage equality in New York now!”
Gay rights activist Brendan Fay used his megaphone to urge state Sens. George Onorato (D−Astoria) and Shirley Huntley (D−Jamaica) to “get on board for equal rights.” Both senators opposed gay marriage and pressure is especially being put on Onorato by gay activists because of the large gay population in his district.
Bayside native David Bass, 23, said he was disappointed that states considered more conservative than New York have gay marriage first, but believes it is inching toward passing it.
“I think everyone’s [angry] that we’re behind Iowa and Maine,” said Bass, who is gay. “I think everyone knows how close we are to gay marriage in New York.”
Kendra Dean, a 24−year−old bisexual Manhattan resident, said the state is not as forward−thinking as its liberal reputation would suggest.
“I think for New York being very worried about being ahead of the times, they’re far behind the times when it comes to civil rights,” she said. “Rights that every person should have should be spoken for.”
Jackson Heights resident Julia Cohen, who has attended the parade since it was founded about 15 years ago, said the event has evolved from encompassing only the gay community to gaining the acknowledgement of elected officials.
“It has become a place where politicians want to be seen. In the first years, it was a multicultural parade,” said Cohen, a lesbian who has been with her partner for 19 years.
Jackson Heights residents John and Kim Olthoff, a straight couple, said they came to the parade to show their support for the gay community.
“It’s really sad that people will go out of their way to deny human rights to human beings,” said John Olthoff. “We don’t have a horse in this race, so to speak. We’re here for everybody.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
