Gay Pride Parades Celebrate Court Ruling

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Sunday for Gay Pride parades, energized by the Supreme Court's ruling that struck down laws against sodomy and a decision by Canada to allow gay marriage.

In New York, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and other cities, revelers marched, danced and carried banners congratulating the Supreme Court for its landmark ruling as rainbow flag-waving crowds lined the streets.

``There's such a resonance, such a sense of movement,'' said Marty Downs, a community organizer with the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center. ``This year, it feels really political.''

Even before the ruling Thursday that struck down a Texas law banning sodomy, the committee that puts on San Francisco's massive parade, one of the best-attended events in the state, had decided to infuse this year's festivities with a more activist bent.

``We got a couple of breaks in the last few weeks, with Canada legalizing gay marriage and now the Supreme Court,'' said Supervisor Tom Ammiano, one of two candidates vying to become San Francisco's first gay mayor this year. ``It looks like Sandra Day O'Connor watching `Will & Grace' really paid off.''

Despite this year's historic backdrop, the events in cities around the country maintained their colorful, Carnaval-like atmosphere. They featured naked cyclists, fluffy pink boas and floats swaying with singing drag queens.

As in years past, the lesbian motorcycle group Dykes on Bikes got the San Francisco parade off to a roaring start with hundreds of leather-clad and topless women astride motorcycles.

``It's a big party,'' said Jeffrey Sykes, 37, who has attended at least 10 Gay Pride parades in San Francisco. ``It's a chance to let it all hang out and celebrate who we are.''

The parade's theme was ``You Gotta Give Them Hope,'' a campaign slogan that belonged to San Francisco's first openly gay city supervisor, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone 25 years ago this November.

The SF Pride Committee also used the occasion to encourage people to lobby the state Senate to vote for pending legislation that would grant gay couples most of the same legal and financial benefits as married heterosexuals. Police would give no crowd estimates.

As they basked in the Supreme Court decision, many participants said they looked forward to a new era of equality and respect.

``We're all together, one family,'' said Armando Gonzalez, 21, of Issaquah, Wash., who took part in Seattle's parade as a member of a youth choir made up of both gay and straight singers. ``There are no barriers.''

On June 10, an Ontario appeals court ruled as unconstitutional Canada's definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman - paving the way for legalized gay unions there.

Then last week, the U.S. Supreme Court made its 6-3 decision that apparently swept away laws in a dozen states banning oral and anal sex for everyone, or for homosexuals in particular.

Both supporters and critics of the decision were quick to suggest it could lead to other legal advances for gays and lesbians - including the right to gay marriage - and organizers said a feeling of hope would carry over to the marches and celebrations this weekend.

Chicago's parade drew between 375,000 and 400,000 people, according to parade coordinator Richard Pfeiffer. Organizers of the Atlanta Pride Festival, now in its 33rd year, said they expected a crowd of 300,000, the largest in the parade's history. The ruling was cited as a factor in the big turnout.

``You couldn't ask for a better reason to come out and celebrate,'' said Philip Rafshoon, owner of Outwrite Bookstore in Atlanta's traditionally gay Midtown neighborhood. ``A lot of people think (gay sex is) immoral. And, unfortunately for them, it's not illegal anymore.''

One participant in the St. Louis PrideFest said this year's parade seemed more vibrant, more celebratory than previous years. She attributed the large crowd in part to the Supreme Court ruling, but that wasn't all.

``We're becoming more comfortable in our own skin,'' said Robin Hanson, 41, a doctoral candidate at Saint Louis University. ``I've been 'out' for 20 years and there have been a lot of changes in acceptance since then.''

St. Louis police had no crowd estimates, but organizers predicted as many as 15,000 to 50,000 would attend the weekend of activities.

Speaking through a megaphone at the New York parade, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, took note of how much the political landscape for gays and lesbians had changed with a few short days.

``Let's hear it for gay pride,'' Schumer shouted. ``Let's even hear it for the Supreme Court - who ever thought we'd say that!''

"Looks like Schumer in NY has lined up with the Gay community big time on this issue!"

He & the rest of the 'Rats might as well, Mom.
After all they've really nothing [else] to run on, now; besides, crusading on behalf of who's sleeping with who.
Do they?

Each & every single one of 'em are the same pathetic, pandering sluts in that regard they've always been; so, they're consistent, if they're nothing else.

Think of it, an American political party who'll use any individual, any group or issue -- no matter how gutteral & foul -- to prolong their access to power in whatever form they can seize it.
Truly a depraved ilk, this bunch.

"Could become a really nasty campaign in NY and elsewhere with all of these rulings!"

Could be??
You're being charitable *and* optomistic -- again -- aren'tcha? {g}

Ask yourself, when has a campaign with the party of the Liberal-Socialists *ever* been any other kind of campaign than the kind which would leave one feeling utterly filthy, thoroughly soiled and seriously in need of a good kerosine dip following contact?

When?

...it's been a very long time.

Good question! Believe Conservative activism will turn back this attack on America and the values we cherish. We cannot afford to let the liberal socialist win!

Anyone that dares use the word socialist and President Bush in the same sentence has revealed their agenda which IMO is to split the conservative votes in 2004! Only one group wants the consrvatives split and that is the RATs! We cannot let those people get a foothold here to spread their lies and when they do post them, they need refuted. People can disagree with a particular program of the President but to stoop to calling him a socialist is beneath my contempt.

Something else also hit me last night -- Senator Frist statements about the amendment broke on the AP wire after 10:00 pm on a Sunday night which I found really odd. It set off the firestorm that had been brewing under the surface for sometime with people being upset but not doing anything. Then we find out there is an amendment already submitted in the House which I sure don't remember hearing about.

The bottom line is we all need to keep the pressure on our elected officials to do the right thing about this out of control SCOTUS who are making the laws as they go along! The Congress is on recess and now when they come back they will be faced with an avalanche of emails against the SCOTUS decision. Or I hope they will. We might want to put up a thread asking people to call write and express their outrage at the decision and support for the Amendment.

Used to believe that the 2000 election was the good versus evil, but I believe this election is even more important.

The RATs have shown what they can do by obstructing the appointment of conservative, constitutionalist judges by their filibustering and not permitting a vote. Senator Frist has been reluctant to go to his final option because of the precedent it is going to set -- he just may do it now. All this posturing by the RATs IMO has been a dry-run for the SCOTUS appointments which are sure to come.

Believe this campaign is rapidly becoming one of Family Values versus the liberals that want to tear down the Family which, in turn, destroys the Country as we know it. When you have people in the House that belong to the Socialist (Communist IMO) Party of America, it shows just how bold they have become over the years especially during the Clinton years!

Believe it is time for the conservative communities to stand up and be counted. We did it in 1994 with the Contract of America and taking over the House and Senate and now in 2004, we HAVE to keep the White House and give our Senators some help -- a slim vote margin is not enough.

We can usually count on 2 or 3 Dems to vote with us but then we have Specter and Snowe along with throw a dart McCain on which way the wind is blowing for the day. We need a lot more solid cushion in the Senate. In the House we need to pick up more seats for a larger margin to protect against the moderates in our own party. Pelosi's attacks against Republicans on the prescription drug bill for seniors along with her fellow attack dogs in the House debate last week was the worst display on the House floor I believe I have witnessed since C-SPAN has been broadcasting from the floor.

These DemocRATs are not afraid to attack now in public with their lies and being just plain nasty -- the eternal optimist in me says that they have overstepped and some Americans who were sitting on their hands are now going to work to put America back on the right track!

2004 IMO will be the defining moment for this Country. We suffered through 8 years of the clintons, were attacked on 9/11 which led to the War with Terrorism that has taken us to many countries especially Afghanistan and Iraq where we still have our military in harm's way. We cannot afford to become complacent for the 2004 elections -- we need to work like we are way behind in the polls and that our Country is at stake -- which it is!

In order to pass this amendment the conservative groups are going to have to all work together like they did on the Contract with America to get the word out -- every last person who is Republican or leans Republican needs to get out and vote on 2 November 2004 -- no excuses! We cannot afford to let the RATs return to the White House and take control of the House or Senate -- that means we all need to roll up our sleeves and do what we can to get Republicans elected.

End of soapbox!

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