Following the official designation by President Barack Obama for the first national monument commemorating LGBT rights, Pride Weekend 2016 commenced in cities all around the world. Citizens across the globe came together in honor and celebration of queer identities and to pay respect to the lives lost in the tragic Orlando shooting.
From festivals, parades and parties that never seemed to end, here is how a few places celebrated Pride Weekend 2016:
Chicago
The theme for Chicago’s 47th annual Pride parade, “Solidarity Through Pride,” proved to harrowing way to begin as attendees watched the names and photos of the Pulse Nightclub shooting victims be carried in the streets.
Houston
Houston Pride drew in thousands during their night time Pride festivities. Imran Yousef served as Grand Marshal of the parade and festival. He was honored for his bravery and saving more than 70 lives during the Orlando night club attack.
Seattle
Seattle’s Gay Pride parade turned out nearly half a million celebrants at this year’s pride celebration. The city’s first openly gay mayor, Ed Murray, commenced the parade with a moment of silence for all of the Orlando shooting victims. As celebrations went underway, identities were represented and given the chance to take part in the festivities from stories read to children by prominent LGBTQIA personalities to huge parade productions carried out in the streets.
San Francisco
Hundreds of thousands drew in for the 46th annual Pride Parade in downtown San Francisco last weekend. People could be found sporting hats that said “Make America Gay Again,” as well as several commemorative t-shirts in respect of Orlando victims. The crowds appeared to be in great spirit as all of the commotion ensued from all-women motorcycle gangs to large, floats decked out in every decoration imaginable.
Istanbul
Despite the incredible love and support surrounding many Pride celebrations, Istanbul, Turkey fought for their right to celebrate in the streets. Turkish police used tear gas and rubber bullets to deter people from gathering and celebrating Gay Pride Week on Sunday and many were arrested for their resistance. However, some protesters refused to be silenced and took to playing music and dancing in the streets despite the onlooking police force.
Small but noisy group of #IstanbulPride participants defying police pic.twitter.com/l6CMsUW8Nr
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) June 26, 2016
New York
The big apple is well known for it’s extravagant Pride celebrations, and this year was no different. Including setting a world record for the largest recorded parade in it’s history, Hillary Clinton and Reverend Al Sharpton didn’t miss out on the fun and made a surprise appearance during the parade as well. The parade ended at the historic Stonewall Inn which as of today, now stands as the first and only LGBT monument in the United States.
Happy Pride!
