Gay Pride 2003

John Lawrence, right, and Tyron Garner, center, greet supporters after a celebration rally in Houston, June 26, 2003. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ban on gay sex, ruling that the law was an unconstitutional violation of privacy. Lawrence and Garner were each fined $200 and spent a night in jail for a misdemeanor sex charge in 1998.

Ruth Harlow, lead attorney and legal director at Lambda Legal, which represents two men who were arrested and convicted for violating a Texas ban on gay sex, meets reporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court, June 26, 2003. The court struck down the ban, ruling that the law was an unconstitutional violation of privacy.

Members of the Alexander Hamilton Post of the American Legion, a gay veterans association, sing the national anthem as the U.S. flag is raised in San Francisco's Castro district following the Supreme Court sodomy ruling, June 26, 2003. The rainbow flag that normally flies in the Castro was replaced by the U.S. flag for the first time. At right is Mario Benefiled, the commander of the group.

Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay Democrat, waves a copy of the Supreme Court decision striking down a ban on gay sex during a news conference on Capitol Hill, June 26, 2003.

Canada OKs Marriages

Toronto City Councilor Kyle Rae, center, and his spouse Mark Reid, left, react after their wedding ceremony in Toronto, Ontario, June 20, 2003. Canada has become the third nation, after Belgium and the Netherlands, to legalize homosexual unions.

Newlyweds Henry Pabian, left, and Jason Rawls carry a sign thanking Canada during the gay pride parade in Toronto, June 29, 2003. The city of Toronto has started granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples following an Ontario Court decision earlier in June. The parade is the final event of Pride Week, Canada's largest gay and lesbian celebration.

Key West, Fla.

A 1-1/4-mile-long rainbow flag reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Key West, Fla., June 15, 2003. The mammoth banner, which required 17,600 linear yards of fabric, was created by Gilbert Baker to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the gay and lesbian rainbow icon he conceived in 1978. It was a highlight event of the PrideFest Key West celebration.

Boston

Gavi Wolfe of Cambridge, Mass., public education director for the Gay and Lesbian Advocate Defenders, waves to the crowd during Boston's Pride Parade, June 14, 2003. Parade participants were marching for full equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Boston

Amy Lee, left, and Mariko Golden, a couple from Boston, participate in Boston's Pride Parade, June 14, 2003.

Lansing, Mich.

Ray Smith, left, attempts to interrupt anti-gay protester Aron Belcher during a gay pride Parade in Lansing, Mich. , June 14, 2003.

Allentown, Pa.

Rachel Roccoberton, of Bolton, Conn., blows bubbles while waiting to perform with fellow members of her dance troupe at the 2003 Lehigh Valley Gay Pride Festival in Allentown, Pa., June 22, 2003.

Minneapolis, Minn.

During the gay pride parade in Minneapolis, city council member Gary Schiff, left, demonstrates his appreciation for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a Texas sodomy law as his partner, Jim Berg, holds a sign, June 29, 2003.

New York City

Mette Petersen of Denmark, right, helps to handle an AIDS "ribbon" measuring over a block long, as it weaves its way down Fifth Avenue during New York's annual gay pride parade, June 29, 2003.

Seattle

Two colorfully dressed members of the Dykes on Bikes motorcycle group race pass the crowd during Seattle's gay pride parade, June 29, 2003. Thousands of people showed up for the 27th annual event.

San Francisco

San Francisco Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Heuer, right, holds hands with Mike Sousa while marching in San Francisco's 33rd annual gay pride parade, June 29, 2003. Behind them, a sheriff's bus is adorned with a rainbow flag.

Mexico City, Mexico

Hundreds of people join a parade to celebrate gay pride in Mexico City, June 21, 2003.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Thousands parade during the gay pride parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 22, 2003. The Sao Paulo parade is one of the biggest gay pride parades in the world; organizers expected 800,000 people to march down Sao Paulo's main Paulista Avenue.

Tel Aviv, Israel

A transvestite performs during a gay pride parade in Tel Aviv, June 27, 2003.

Paris

Thousands of people take part in the gay pride parade in Paris, June 28, 2003.

India

A gay Indian man marches in the "Walk On The Rainbow" rally organized by gay rights group "Integration" as it passes through the street in Calcutta, India, June 29, 2003. In India, where homosexuality is a crime, dozens of people marched carrying a huge rainbow flag in a rare public demonstration to demand rights for gays and lesbians.