#NYC’s Pride parade goes virtual while pro-LGBTQ, BLM protesters march

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People take part in the Queer Liberation March hosted by The Reclaim Pride Coalition for Trans and Queer black lives and against police brutality in lower Manhattan
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New York City’s official annual Pride parade was held virtually Sunday because of the coronavirus — but that didn’t prevent hundreds of people from packing sections of Manhattan for a pro-LGBTQ, anti-police-brutality march.

The crowd protested under Black Lives Matter and other banners while waving rainbow flags.

Participants in the event — which was organized by the Reclaim Pride Coalition and called the Queer Liberation March — gathered in Foley Square and began walking to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village in the early afternoon.

Hosts of the live-streamed event appeared from inside the Stonewall Inn in the Village, where the historic gay-rights riots started 51 years ago to the day.

Event organizers boasted on Twitter that they didn’t have a permit for the march.

The protest occurred at the same time as the city’s live-streamed Pride event celebrating its LGBTQ community. Sunday was the city parade’s 50th anniversary.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, appeared on Fifth Avenue as a series of decorated cars with balloons began slowly making their way downtown as part of the event, which was broadcast on various online platforms.

McCray, who identified as a lesbian before marrying the mayor, was wearing a rainbow feathered boa.

The city event included hosts such as Carson Kressley and Sam Champion and was to show performances by everyone from Janelle Monae to Billy Porter and Margaret Cho.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared on video, saying, “New York state will always lead this march for progress.”