New Yorkers celebrate Pride Month ahead of Sunday's march in Manhattan
NEW YORK -- It's the final weekend of Pride Month, and New York continues to celebrate.
Harlem recognized Pride on Saturday ahead of Sunday's big march in Manhattan.
It was a day of dancing and fun with electricity in the air.
"Today, seeing what Harlem is doing is amazing because a couple years ago, they didn't have this," Gilead ambassador Romano Johnson said.
LGBTQIA+ vendors lined 12th Avenue as a sea of people enjoyed everything Pride. Booths offered everything from health advice to food.
"Being part of this today, seeing everyone being festive, everybody's feeling the love, we're receiving the love, giving it back. It's amazing. I'm so glad I get to be a part of it," said Malakya Wiggerton.
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"People are really recruiting people to come out and make the community here even stronger, which I love because sometimes with the Black community, you don't feel that support with the gay community, so they're really bringing that together here," Edison resident Brauna Marks said.
Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul were also in attendance, showing their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
"Pride crosses all demographics and all demographics must be heard," Adams said.
"You have to be fearless every single day. You have to be tough. You have to stand up to the hated and the bigotry, and that's what this celebration is all about," Hochul said.
Both the mayor and the governor sent a reminder that they will continue to champion LGBTQ+ rights.
Saturday night, music was blasting on Christopher Street as a crowd outside the Stonewall Inn grew.
Friends visiting from Conner, Texas, said they felt right at home there.
"It's not something that we get to see every day, especially in southern Texas," Harley Sargent said.
"It's been insane. I've been on and off trying not to cry," Nix Chapman said.
"It feels really cool to know I'm OK with being myself here, and I don't have to look over my shoulder and be afraid," Alex Williams said.
Meanwhile, Long Island's North Fork had its first-ever Pride Parade, organized by the nonprofit LGBT Network. The festivities kicked off in the village of Greenport around noon and ended with a Pride festival at Mitchell Park.
Sunday's annual New York City Pride March kicks off in Manhattan at 11 a.m. Millions are expected to attend.