Gay pride parade in New York includes added reasons to celebrate

NEW YORK -- Summertime parades seem to occur every week in New York, but Sunday’s Pride March had more than rainbow flags and elaborate costumes to celebrate the gay rights movement: It came days after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Signs celebrating DOMA’s demise were everywhere in the parade, which stretched doth 5th Avenue from 36th Street to Greenwich Village, near the Stonewall Inn. A police raid of that inn, a gay hangout, on June 28, 1969, motivated organizers to found the parade and hold it a year later.

Some of the original marchers participated in Sunday’s parade, alongside marching bands in white and purple, drag queens on floats, men with elaborate feathered headdresses, Bert and Ernie puppets, and women and men in various states of near nakedness. Corporate sponsors participated too, including Whole Foods, Macy’s and Shutterstock. Politicians marched, including mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, whose appearance prompted some colorful language -- and applause -- from the rowdy crowd.

Organizers were expecting the biggest turnout ever, despite muggy weather and showers. Josh Glasman, 31, said he was impressed by the size of the crowds.

“Everyone turned out for this -- not just the people who have reason to celebrate,” he said.

Sometimes the people watching this parade were more dressed up than those in it.

Keno Glenie, 34, a jewelry designer, was walking down the sidewalk dressed in an elaborate Roman soldier headdress with feathers on top, and chains. He said he’d used the outfit for a fashion shoot and decided to wear it for fun. Glenie, who is gay, has lived in New York for 13 years but says this is the first time he’s attended the Pride March.

“DOMA is dead, there’s a lot to celebrate,” he said, as pedestrians snapped photos.

Edie Windsor, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case against DOMA, was a grand marshal of the parade, as was musician Harry Belafonte. Cher was to perform in the village Sunday evening.

Sean Connelly, 24, trekked from New Jersey to attend the parade with friends. He painted glitter on his shoulders and a rainbow on his cheek. He watched as a group of men in shorts waved silver flags in sync, and then as a group went by supporting LGBT Israelis.

“This is the only parade I want to go to,” he said. “I don’t go to the Thanksgiving parade, but I go to this one.”

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alana.semuels@latimes.com