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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2002
PR-159-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG HOSTS RECEPTION AT GRACIE MANSION IN CELEBRATION OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MARCH


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion to celebrate Pride Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Pride March. The parade will be held Sunday, June 30th along 5th Avenue and will travel from 52nd Street to Christopher Street. The theme for this year's parade is "Against a Dark Sky, the Rainbow Shines Brightly". Among those attending the reception were New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Human Resources Administration Commissioner Verna Eggleston, Department of Finance Commissioner Martha Stark, Human Rights Commissioner Patricia Gatling, as well as other New York City officials.

"This parade displays the pride of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The diversity of this City is what gives us our strength. I am honored to recognize the vital role these communities play in making New York the capital of the world."

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Pride March was established in 1970 to honor the beginning of the gay rights movement, the Stonewall riots which occurred in June, 1969. The parade also commemorates those individuals lost to the AIDS virus with a moment of silence at 2:00 PM.

The National Grand Marshalls of the parade will be the NYPD Chapter of the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), FIREFLAG, and Dr. Karla Jay. Both GOAL and FIREFLAG are being recognized to honor firefighters, police officers and rescue workers. GOAL was founded in 1982 as the first organization to advocate and address the needs of gay and lesbian law enforcement personnel. FIREFLAG is the only national peer/social support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender firefighters, EMT's, and paramedics. It is also recognized as a fraternal line organization of New York City Fire Department. Dr. Karla Jay is a distinguished professor of English at Pace University and is a well-known scholar of lesbian and gay studies. She is being honored for a lifetime of activism in both women's and gay rights movements.

 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Ed Skyler / Lark-Marie Antón
(212) 788-2958