This year’s 48th annual NYC Pride March was one of the most dynamic and politicized in recent memory. Various news outlets reported there were up to two million participants, an astounding number which speaks to the indomitable strength of the LGBTQ community.
2017 has been a pivotal year for the LGBTQ struggle. In this past year alone, we have seen the ascent of Trump — the Bigot-in-Chief — to the oval office, the long-awaited release of Chelsea Manning, and one year ago, the tragic massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub in Florida. Witin this complex reality, the streets were alive with a mix of raw emotions—anger, sadness and militancy.
No one can hijack Pride’s revolutionary history
The Pride Parade was originally a rebellion against the police, led primarily by trans women of color. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, and Sylvia Rivera, a Venezuelan and Puerto Rican trans woman, were two of these legendary leaders.
It all started at the Stonewall Inn, a bar run by greedy mafiosos and the only bar in the West Village area of New York City where gay and trans people could congregate without fear of harassment.
On June 28, 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn to brutalize and humiliate people as they had done so many times before. This time we fought back. Marsha Johnson threw the bottle that began the Stonewall Rebellion which would forever change the LGBTQ liberation movement.
For three days and nights, the LGBTQ community fought back against the NYPD. The rest is history. Pride marches (formerly known as the Christopher Street Liberation Day March) had a militant, fight-back character. Initially, they remained small and confined to the West Village. As more and more LGBTQ people stood up and exploded into their own identities and collective freedom, Pride grew year-by-year and spread around the country and the world.
The revolutionary spirit continues today
The PSL Pride contingent demonstrated the multinational, working-class unity among people who fight for socialism to achieve queer liberation. Queer and trans folks led the contingent and shouted chants that got the crowd fired up from 38th Street all the way down to Christopher Street: “Queers don’t deny it, Stonewall was a riot” and “The Gay community is under attack! What do we do! Stand up! Fight back!”
PSL members from New Haven, Connecticut and Philadelphia came in to join in the march. We held signs that read: “Trans liberation now!”, “The First Pride Was a Riot,” and “Defend Medicaid and HIV Treatment.”
Over 400 contingents participated. All political trends were on display on 5th Ave. Some liberals waved misleading signs that read, “If Hillary had won, we’d be at brunch right now.” Our youthful contingent challenged this hollow idea, carrying signs and banners stating: “Police violence is an LGBTQ issue” and “Stonewall means fight back!”
Pride = freedom
Pride represents so much for so many. Some young queer people are just learning about what it means to be gay or trans. Others, our veterans, have had to hide in fear for much of their lives. There were even straight allies who have overcome past ignorance and now stand in solidarity for LGBTQ liberation.
For Dylyla “Daniel” Iris, it was their first Pride. They spoke to what it meant to them:
“Today I marched in a parade with my flag. But not any parade, it was the Pride Parade! Today I was in a community surrounded by people that I didn’t even know, supporting not only me, but each other. Today I felt something I haven’t felt in years. I felt complete. For months, I felt so in the dark and alone. I couldn’t figure out what it was. So I just kept changing things and changing and changing. But none of the changes made me feel better or anything for that matter. Until one day, I felt something new. At first I really questioned myself. But my two friends gave me the push I needed to realize that this is who I am. For once in four years, I felt actual happiness. I felt like I knew who I was and where I was meant to be. With today, having people stop me to take my picture in the train, in the street and in the parade with them or even just by myself made me feel good. Even giving me a look that my outfit makes them feel a certain way, a good way, made me feel like I found my place. For the first time in four years, I feel complete. I am 16-years old. My name is Dylyla (who loves when people call me Daniel) and I am proud to express that I am apart of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Daniel’s testimony speaks to the bravery of millions of LGBTQ youth paving the way forward for all of us.
Overcoming homophobia in our own communities
Geronimo Ruiz Martinez, a leader of the PSL, recalled his own childhood:
“For someone in his teenage years who was incessantly anti-gay, who would never hesitate to curse people out or insult them because they weren’t macho enough, I was once full of derogatory hate and anger caused by a capitalist system that uses that fire and hatred to divide and conquer. Nowadays, I support all oppressed groups. This is my 2nd Pride parade, the energy was amazing. Even when some guy caressed my head and asked me if I was single, I didn’t get mad or angry … I’ve come a long way.”
Geronimo spoke for many people in our communities. Distracted from seeing the true source of our oppression, we misdirect our anger. This can take the form of machismo, anti-immigrant scapegoating, racism and all too often homophobia. As Geronimo stated:
“Pride is also a time for people to overcome their own chauvinism, settle their quarrels, and show the strength we working people have when we are united.”
“No Pride, No Justice”
It is clear that corporations and the police do not represent or defend the interests of LGBTQ people and the historic essence of Pride. The NYPD hypocritically draped their vans in rainbow flags, pretending to be allies of our community. But we know the truth. Every day, police across the country harass, traumatize, and arrest queer and working people.
PSL New Haven trans leader Chardonnay Heather Charlene Merlot spoke to this reality:
“The Fortune 500 corporations who come out to Pride could care less about the rainbow flag; the only color they care about is green.”
“No Justice, No Pride” demonstrators temporarily blocked the parade early in the day near the Stonewall Inn in protest of the corporatization of the parade and the presence of the NYPD. The NYPD arrested 12 queer and trans demonstrators.
“No Justice, No Pride” said this in a press release:
“Pride is meant to commemorate and continue the fight begun in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots. A fight against police violence, and a fight that most certainly did not have permits. And, most importantly, a fight we still shoulder to this day. The violence against our communities by the police has not stopped.”
The PSL joins in the denunciation of corporate and police hijacking of the parade.
We are also conscious of the precious fact that Pride represents the one day when an oppressed people can come triumphantly and freely into the streets to celebrate their identities. “No Justice, No Pride” actions in other cities had the effect of not just halting the corporations, but also progressive community contingents. Most of the corporate contingents are also composed of working-class LGBTQ workers. Such actions can have the unintended effect of alienating the very people we are seeking to win over to our politics.
Tactics must target the real enemies, Wall Street and the politicians, both Democrats and Republicans. They are the ones who repress us — preventing us from obtaining proper healthcare, enforcing rigid patriarchal “norms” and detaining working-class queer people, immigrants and gender non-conforming people.
These corporations and politicians will not tokenize the queer struggle and capitalize off of the Pride flag for the sake of profit. Queer liberation means we must organize and unite among all working people to defeat the greedy ruling elite!
