Queens Pride Parade draws tens of thousands to celebrate Pride Month
NEW YORK -- The 2024 New Queens Pride Parade marched through Jackson Heights, Queens on Sunday, as Pride Month kicks off in New York City.
The parade started in 1993 as both a celebration of identity and an act of defiance amid hate crimes. It shines a light on the queer community in one of the world's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
CBS New York is a proud sponsor of the parade under our #BetterTogether campaign.
Tens of thousands celebrate Pride in Queens
Event organizers say more than 60,000 people attended Sunday's parade, which featured 135 marching groups and dozens of floats.
Spectators came from across the city and beyond to celebrate.
"We love Queens Pride! We came all the way from Florida for Queens Pride," one person said.
"Happy to be here to celebrate Pride with the community. It's not just June, the month of Pride, it's all year long," another person said.
CBS New York met members of the queer community who have been marching for their rights long before the parade was officially organized.
"I've been doing Pride for over 47 years because we used to start on Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street ... I've got pride in my life, pride in the way I live and I'm glad to be here at Pride today," one marcher said.
"I'm coming from a country where we don't have rights over there, and here, I can feel free and I'm safe," one parade-goer said.
"Today I hope to have fun, but you know, we do need to march for our rights now," another parade-goer said.
See the Queens Pride Parade 2024 route map
The Queens Pride Parade steps off from 37th Avenue and 89th Street in Jackson Heights, then marches 14 blocks to 75th Street, where organizers throw a huge party to cap off the day of celebrating equality.
Meet the Queens Pride Parade 2024 grand marshals
CBS New York's Elle McLogan had the chance to meet one of this year's grand marshals, Amber Ferrer.
Ferrer is a community advocate who supports her uncle, Eddie Valentin, at his renowned gay bars, Friends Tavern and Viva La Heights, on Roosevelt Avenue. They have cultivated a space where everyone feels valued, and they offer things like food drives and health resources for their neighbors.
Ferrer said Pride is "like our Christmas, it's our holiday season."
She will be joined by another grand marshal, Billy Green, who was named the 2023 New York State Teacher of the Year, and an honorary grand marshal, New York State Sen. Leroy Comrie.
CBS New York's Doug Williams spent a day in Green's classroom at A. Philip Randolph High School in Harlem. Green says he is a champion of inclusion.
"It's about respecting people in their spaces and making them feel welcome, which is something that he has continuously taught us," 12th grader Xavian Plasencia said.
Green says he hopes his role as grand marshal in the Queens Pride Parade shows the city and the world that there is "a lot of love in being inclusive."
Flashback to Queens Pride Parade 2023
The Queens Pride Parade celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, and CBS New York was along for the festivities. Here are some of the stories we shared, along with our full special.
- Remembering Julio Rivera, whose murder gave rise to the Queens Pride Parade to increase visibility in Jackson Heights
- Gotham Cheer and Mercy B. Lolita Leopard excited to represent LGBTQ+ community for younger generations at Queens Pride
- CBS New York explores drag culture, past and present
- Thriving multicultural LGBTQ+ community finds a home in Jackson Heights
- Love Wins food pantry and Queens Center for Gay Seniors helping the LGBTQ+ community and more
- Watch our full Queens Pride special