Latest news with #PrideMarch
Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Police ‘breached impartiality' by marching under Progress flag at Pride
A chief constable was wrong to allow uniformed officers to march under a Progress flag promoting transgender ideology at a Pride march, a judge has ruled. The decision by Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, the head of Northumbria police and the national lead for LGBT issues at the National Police Chiefs' Council, to encourage officers to be linked to the flag at last year's Pride march in Newcastle was said to have breached their duty of impartiality. The judicial review challenge was brought by a woman who participated in the event and objected to police officers 'associating with messaging which was supportive of the cause of gender ideology'. According to lawyers for Lindsey Smith, the successful claimant, the ruling will raise questions over the participation of Northumbria police in this year's Pride march in the city, which is scheduled for this weekend.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
An LGBT+ guide to Chicago – from visiting the first US ‘gaybourhood' to dining like a (yas) queen
'Let's cross the street to see Freddie'. The street in question is North Halstead Street, and 'Freddie' is none other than Freddie Mercury, his boyish face shining in the scorching Chicago sun. 'After him, I'll show you where Sylvia and Marsha are, so you can say hello.' This is how my guide Victor Salvo introduces me to Chicago's Legacy Walk, his magnum opus, and the first open-air museum celebrating LGBT+ culture in the world. Chicago may have clung to its 'Second City' moniker fiercely, but when it comes to queer history and communities, the city is second to none. Believe it or not, not all 'firsts' in LGBT+ history are linked to New York. Not only is Northalsted (historically named 'Boystown') the first official 'gaybourhood' in the US, Chicago is also where the first Pride March took place on 27 June 1970, a day before the Christopher Street Liberation March in NYC that would shake the world awake. 'Everybody always talks about New York or San Francisco, whereas Chicago has always been, in some respects, a flyover city', Victor explains. 'But because people in Chicago have historically been overlooked, they've developed their own attitude towards getting things done.' The Walk, 25 years in the making, is the result of that attitude. Once just steel pylons rooted on busy North Halsted Street, today the 20 rainbow pillars form a monument to remember queer people who left a mark, from politics and medicine, to sports and entertainment. Well-known or obscure, each person gets a bronze portrait and plaque telling their story, as well as recognising those who contributed to put them there, including organisations and individuals sponsoring their place on the Walk. As Victor and I walk from pillar to pillar, the tarmac under our feet is steaming hot, a result of 38C weather, construction works and the city preparing for its pride festivals: the three main ingredients of a 'Chicago summer', he tells me. Road repairs and street parades are both things Chicagoans save for when their freezing winters are over. And LGBT+ celebrations are a big part of the city coming back to life in summer. There's Pride Fest in early June, then the main Chicago Pride Parade (attracting over a million people every year), and then, the pièce de résistance: Market Days. For three days in August, the biggest street festival in the Midwest takes over Northalsted, with a packed calendar featuring over 250 exhibitors setting up shop in the busy artery, and international stars coming to perform. Gloria Gaynor, The Village People, and Belinda Carlisle are just a few of the musical acts to have headlined. But it isn't all partying. The city has had a significant impact on US history – from the role it played in establishing the very first food regulations to contributing to the formation of social welfare – and this is reflected on LGBT+ landmarks, including archives solely dedicated to LGBT+ rights history, and monuments paying tribute to activists, artists and citizens in the queer community. The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is a queer mecca for those curious to explore the city's archives by delving into some of the 2,000 LGBT+ books. Its immersive, permanent display of newspaper and magazine clippings is dedicated solely to LGBT+ milestones in the city, from the first discrimination case won in court, to life-size photographs of the first lesbian wedding celebrated in the City Hall. Another key landmark is Chicago's Aids Garden, tucked in a pocket of sprawling Lincoln Park. As I walk from the edge of roaring Lake Michigan to the small, intimate garden, it's tantamount to a spiritual experience for me. Scanning the tree-mounted QR codes, I explore the personal stories of many Chicagoans who had the disease between the 1980s and 2000s. Listening to their stories in their own voices, I feel like I'm not in a park at all – rather in an outdoor temple where the wind, trees, and birds echo these stories. Like many before me, I tie my rainbow ribbon to one of the trees to pay tribute to my own queer elders, the people whose lives keep inspiring me and those who keep marching at pride parades around the globe. Northalsted may be the place to party, but Andersonville is the neighbourhood most queer Chicagoans call home. Known as the 'shop local' capital of the metropolis, 90 per cent of businesses here are independent and the vast majority are LGBT+-owned and run. They all breathe fresh air into this diverse community, from vinyl shops like Reckless Records to boutiques such as Cowboys and Astronauts, as well kids' clothes shops, and a wide array of artisanal displays gathered in Andersonville Galleria. The ripple effect of Chicago's strong advocacy groups and outspoken communities is life-changing for many, Chicago Therapy Collective (CTC) founder and director Iggy Ladden tells me. They share with me how a deeply personal experience turned into positive change for all. 'I was barred from my baby's birth certificate as a non-binary person, and that was a very heartbreaking experience,' they begin. 'It didn't even register to me at the time that that was discrimination. I was just like, 'oh, this is what happens'. 'I had the privilege to share that [experience] with Chicago's governor at one of the charity's events. Fast forward two years, Illinois has just passed a bill called Equality for Every Family, which modernises all of our parentage, adoption and surrogacy laws to ensure that there's no discrimination against queer people and second parents.' I also have the good fortune to catch Chicago's mayor, Brandon Johnson, address the district with his commitments around LGBT+ rights during what is a fraught time to be queer in the US. Though this is an extraordinary event, I get the sense that these conversations happen frequently here. Iggy's story is only one such instance – a sign of the 'city of broad shoulders' once again turning words into deeds for the communities that call it home. Where to eat and drink Ask any Chicagoan in the street for recommendations on what to do, and chances are they will tell you their favourite eateries. After a day of hopping from one place to the other, I find a cosy, no-frills but special diner hits the spot. Little Goat is a bright star in the city's brunch scene, but has amazing options for every meal. Don't skip the seasonal specials, and save space for dessert. For a tipple or two, Andersonville gem Nobody's Darling is a stylish cocktail bar that feels like a community hub and your cool aunts' dining room. Wives Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle are at the helm, and their goal from day one was to create a space where people can mingle, sip delicious cocktails and simply exist joyfully. Should one of those chats turn into a romantic date, the place to go is Drew's on Halsted. A refined but relaxed atmosphere is the accompaniment to hearty American-European dishes, from mac 'n' cheese to filet mignon. Snatch a seat by the window to see Northalsted come alive at nighttime. For special but casual, you have heaps of options. Marina's Bistro is in a blink-and-you-miss-it place, a literal hidden gem in Uptown Chicago. Owner and chef Eric Roldan named the place after his mum, and exclusively uses family recipes for his delicious, elevated Puerto Rican dishes. Home to the longest-running drag brunch in the city, Kit Kat Lounge dishes up good food alongside drag performances twice every day. No matter whether you stay for a stack of pancakes or evening bingo with a side of fried chicken, your eyes will be glued to the insanely talented performers. Getting there United Airlines, American Airlines and British Airways have direct daily flights from London Heathrow to Chicago O'Hare. Flight time is around 8 hours 45 minutes. To go through pre-approval in Dublin, Aer Lingus and American Airlines fly direct to Chicago O'Hare. Flight time is around 6 hours 30 minutes. Where to stay For all the comforts of a hotel but the freedom of an apartment all to yourself, book the boutique Guesthouse Hotel, your home away from home in Andersonville (double bedroom flats start from $500/£370 per night). If you're saving your bucks, the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Hostel has all-gender dorms starting from $40/£30 per night, and is top rated in the city for LGBT+ solo travellers.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pride reminded me capitalism can't save us from Trump. Only we can do that.
On the last weekend in June, I walked down Fifth Avenue alongside people dressed in their best rainbow regalia and parade floats blasting Beyoncé for New York City's annual Pride March. Commemorating the June 28 Stonewall uprisings, the march has taken place every year since 1970. But most of the LGBTQ+ people I am in community with were far away from the colorful, bank-friendly festivities. There's sort of an unspoken rule of pride in the city: The annual Dyke March and Queer Liberation March over pride weekend are for the politically active members of the community, while the city's official celebration is for corporations. But as Pride Month fades away and the summer heat blazes on, I'm left thinking about what queer resistance should look like during a second Donald Trump presidency. Will we miss corporations as they become more squeamish about supporting the LGBTQ+ community? Or is it time for us to reclaim our history and show people that we are a force to be reckoned with? If you didn't know, Trump spent June antagonizing the LGBTQ+ community. That month, his administration announced that the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline would be severing ties with LGBTQ+ organizations and that Harvey Milk was no longer worth honoring. Because of Trump, this Pride Month feels different. Hateful. But we will win. | Opinion The transgender community was specifically targeted. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that trans youth did not have a right to gender-affirming care. Trump threatened to pull funding from California because a single 16-year-old girl competed in a high school track and field state championship. The Stonewall National Monument didn't put up any transgender pride flags to commemorate Pride Month, even though trans people were central to the fight for liberation that took place all those years ago. This has affected how corporations are willing to interact with the community, too. NYC Pride March and other pride celebrations across the country saw corporate donors back out of supporting the events. Target and other stores pushed their pride collections to the side. Sure, we're still visible, but the political climate is telling us it's better to be seen and not heard. Now more than ever, we must remember the origins of why we celebrate the month of June. It's not just about rainbows and glitter. It's about defiance. It's about our rights. As a gay man, I'm finally flying a pride flag. I don't know what took so long. | Opinion After the march, I made my way to PrideFest, the street fair hosted by NYC Pride. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' alums Jan Sport and Jackie Cox were emceeing the main stage; the dating app Grindr had a yellow bus parked down the street. Folks were sipping various frozen concoctions out of tall, skinny cups and sweating under the June sun. I spotted a miniature poodle named Scuttle, dyed purple and orange and wearing a rainbow costume, and stopped to talk to his owner, Zach Aaronson. Aaronson was also dressed for the occasion, sporting a rainbow skirt and matching dyed beard. 'The experiences that we've had this month show you that you're not alone, that you can express yourself and live outside of the binary all year,' Aaronson, 35, of Manhattan, told me. Maybe that's the true beauty of Pride Month in its current form – it gives people a springboard to jump from, so that they can be themselves all year long. As I was walking to exit the festival, I spotted Emily Clark, 18, of Staten Island, who had 'Baby's first Pride' written in pen on her arm. She smiled as she told me how supportive and loving everyone she'd met that day had been. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. I still have my qualms about rainbow capitalism and the way pride has been reduced to a party rather than a protest. I don't believe corporations will save us – if it weren't profitable to be aligned with the LGBTQ+ community, their support would disappear. For some companies, it already has. Your Turn: Pride mattered when it was 'our' holiday. There's nothing to be proud of now. | Opinion Forum At the same time, I feel lucky. Lucky that I have found community in New York City, lucky that I stopped being 'straight' years ago. Lucky that my mother and father put up a pride flag outside their home in my small, conservative hometown. Lucky that I'm even able to critique what pride has become, thanks to what pride once was. None of us stop being gay just because June is over and Target is no longer selling rainbow T-shirts with cutesy slogans. None of us will go back into the closet when J.P. Morgan is no longer sponsoring a float. We don't need your performative activism on our behalf. We are here, in spite of it all, and we have something to say. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter: @sara__pequeno You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I went to NYC Pride and all I got was an ego check | Opinion
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Pride reminded me capitalism can't save us from Trump. Only we can do that.
As Pride Month fades away and the summer heat blazes on, I'm left thinking about what queer resistance should look like during a second Donald Trump presidency. On the last weekend in June, I walked down Fifth Avenue alongside people dressed in their best rainbow regalia and parade floats blasting Beyoncé for New York City's annual Pride March. Commemorating the June 28 Stonewall uprisings, the march has taken place every year since 1970. But most of the LGBTQ+ people I am in community with were far away from the colorful, bank-friendly festivities. There's sort of an unspoken rule of pride in the city: The annual Dyke March and Queer Liberation March over pride weekend are for the politically active members of the community, while the city's official celebration is for corporations. But as Pride Month fades away and the summer heat blazes on, I'm left thinking about what queer resistance should look like during a second Donald Trump presidency. Will we miss corporations as they become more squeamish about supporting the LGBTQ+ community? Or is it time for us to reclaim our history and show people that we are a force to be reckoned with? LGBTQ+ folks know the fight is just starting If you didn't know, Trump spent June antagonizing the LGBTQ+ community. That month, his administration announced that the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline would be severing ties with LGBTQ+ organizations and that Harvey Milk was no longer worth honoring. The transgender community was specifically targeted. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that trans youth did not have a right to gender-affirming care. Trump threatened to pull funding from California because a single 16-year-old girl competed in a high school track and field state championship. The Stonewall National Monument didn't put up any transgender pride flags to commemorate Pride Month, even though trans people were central to the fight for liberation that took place all those years ago. This has affected how corporations are willing to interact with the community, too. NYC Pride March and other pride celebrations across the country saw corporate donors back out of supporting the events. Target and other stores pushed their pride collections to the side. Sure, we're still visible, but the political climate is telling us it's better to be seen and not heard. Now more than ever, we must remember the origins of why we celebrate the month of June. It's not just about rainbows and glitter. It's about defiance. It's about our rights. Rainbow capitalism won't save us. Community will. After the march, I made my way to PrideFest, the street fair hosted by NYC Pride. 'RuPaul's Drag Race' alums Jan Sport and Jackie Cox were emceeing the main stage; the dating app Grindr had a yellow bus parked down the street. Folks were sipping various frozen concoctions out of tall, skinny cups and sweating under the June sun. I spotted a miniature poodle named Scuttle, dyed purple and orange and wearing a rainbow costume, and stopped to talk to his owner, Zach Aaronson. Aaronson was also dressed for the occasion, sporting a rainbow skirt and matching dyed beard. 'The experiences that we've had this month show you that you're not alone, that you can express yourself and live outside of the binary all year,' Aaronson, 35, of Manhattan, told me. Maybe that's the true beauty of Pride Month in its current form – it gives people a springboard to jump from, so that they can be themselves all year long. As I was walking to exit the festival, I spotted Emily Clark, 18, of Staten Island, who had 'Baby's first Pride' written in pen on her arm. She smiled as she told me how supportive and loving everyone she'd met that day had been. I still have my qualms about rainbow capitalism and the way pride has been reduced to a party rather than a protest. I don't believe corporations will save us – if it weren't profitable to be aligned with the LGBTQ+ community, their support would disappear. For some companies, it already has. At the same time, I feel lucky. Lucky that I have found community in New York City, lucky that I stopped being 'straight' years ago. Lucky that my mother and father put up a pride flag outside their home in my small, conservative hometown. Lucky that I'm even able to critique what pride has become, thanks to what pride once was. None of us stop being gay just because June is over and Target is no longer selling rainbow T-shirts with cutesy slogans. None of us will go back into the closet when J.P. Morgan is no longer sponsoring a float. We don't need your performative activism on our behalf. We are here, in spite of it all, and we have something to say. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter:@sara__pequeno
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Diddy's two-charge acquittal: Letters to the Editor — June 5, 2025
The Issue: Sean 'Diddy' Combs being acquitted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Sean Combs may have been acquitted of the most serious charges, but that doesn't mean he isn't a degenerate ('Making of a hip-hop martyr,' Kirsten Fleming, July 3). Instead of using his fame and money to make a difference and enrich the lives of others, Combs wielded his power to demean women with predatory behavior that bordered on inhumane. There are no winners in this trial. All it did was showcase how an individual with power and influence, but lacking any real humanity, used people in a bad manner and got away with it. Michael D'Auria Bronxville Those people who predict that Diddy's career will suffer as a result of the trial obviously have not seen the crowd of morons outside the courthouse cheering his 'victory.' He is now a social-justice icon to some, and he will continue to prosper. The government's attempt to score an attention-grabbing victory was an utter failure, a true O.J. Simpson moment. Please do not waste any more of our tax money on prosecutions of celebrities who are above the law. Robert Mangi Garden City Now that Combs has been found guilty of prostitution, the big question is how much a pardon from President Trump will cost him. Even though he was only found guilty on the lesser charges, this pardon would still be costly, but Combs has the money. Kreg Ramone Manhattan Diddy is a very powerful person. Even if he does time, it won't make a difference in his operations and power. The fact is that the operation he was responsible for will continue and prosper because everyone involved knows that they will not suffer any consequences. The corruption runs very deep. Unfortunately, we the public pay the price for this unbelievable immoral debauchery. Jean Cole Juno Beach, Fla. In 1991, Combs promoted a concert at City College which killed nine people in a stampede because Combs oversold the concert tickets. Combs was never charged. Now he sits brooding in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, as his lawyers spew garbage about the lack of opportunity for black people. I believe O.J. murdered Nicole Simpson and Ronald Brown and got away with it by playing the race card. Combs contemptuously continues that tradition. Ron Spurga Manhattan The Issue: The New York City Pride March banning LGBT police offers from participating in uniform. The leaders of the Pride March refused to let gay NYPD officers march in their parade with their uniforms and their firearms on, but as soon as there was a problem when someone was shot and assaulted, who came to help ('The Shame of Pride,' Editorial, July 2)? Everybody had better wake up, because when you are in a bad situation, the only help is the NYPD. Without them, imagine what more could have happened. John Wilde Massapequa Park I've marched in New York City Pride for years. It's one of the most moving, joyful days of the year — full of love, defiance and belonging. But this year, as I cheered for floats and families, drag queens and dancers, I couldn't shake the bitter truth that some of our own were missing: LGBTQIA+ officers were banned from marching in uniform. I get the history — I really do. Law enforcement has caused deep, lasting harm to our community. But Pride was born from protest and from the belief that we all deserve to live and love out loud. It's appalling that queer officers — people who risk their lives for this city every day — are allowed to guard the parade but not walk in it. L.C. Walton Manhattan Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
