Highlights From The Queens Pride Parade In Jackson Heights

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — Tens of thousands of people flocked to Jackson Heights this Sunday to kick off Pride month with the 27th Annual Queens Pride Parade and Festival.

Headlining this year's parade were HIV/AIDS activists Candy Samples and Jesse Pasackow, the Queens Lion Pride Club and Mirror Beauty Cooperative — a cosmetology business founded by four transgender, Latina women.

Among the politicos in attendance were four candidates for Queens District Attorney in the upcoming June 25th primary: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, public defender Tiffany Cabán, former New York State Supreme Court Judge Gregory Lasak and City Council Member Rory Lancman.

New York Attorney General Letitia James; Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn Maloney; City Council Members Karen Koslowitz, Daniel Dromm, Jimmy Van Bramer and Brad Lander; Assembly Members Aravella Simotas and Catalina Cruz and State Sen. Michael Gianaris also made cameos.

Queens' annual Pride parade started in 1993 to commemorate the death of 29-year-old Julio Rivera, who was attacked in a Jackson Heights schoolyard for being gay.

Patch has compiled some of the highlights from this year's parade:

A beautiful day to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride at the Queens Pride Parade and Festival In Jackson Heights, as we mark the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. #PrideMonth #Stonewall50 pic.twitter.com/IMK56ykEnp
— Melinda Katz (@QueensBPKatz) June 2, 2019

It’s officially #pride month! Beautiful day to march in the annual Queens Pride Parade in Jackson Heights. pic.twitter.com/nf3A8do4FT
— Karen Koslowitz (@CMKoslowitz) June 2, 2019

#HappeningNow Queens Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade and Street Festival in Jackson Heights!! Over 105 groups and organizations marching and enjoying festivities in support of the LBGTQ Community! pic.twitter.com/bK5aE29BeV
— NYPD Queens North (@NYPDQueensNorth) June 2, 2019

Wild crowd lining up to get a photo with @AOC at the Queens Pride Parade. A rock star on her home turf. pic.twitter.com/JFLvOAZxXn
— Scott Heins (@scottheins) June 2, 2019

There is nothing like the Queens Pride Parade. Happy to celebrate #PrideMonth with my family and the LGBTQIA+ community of Queens. pic.twitter.com/BdDW95Gbb6
— Aravella Simotas (@AravellaSimotas) June 2, 2019

Another terrific celebration of Queens LGBTQ pride yesterday! Thanks to all who came out. #QueensPride #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/Z3Q0JYabJ8
— Daniel Dromm (@Dromm25) June 3, 2019

Happy Pride, #Queens!! Honored to march with @LGBTNetwork in the @queenspride parade pic.twitter.com/lJCNVdBLpH
— Sen. Mike Gianaris (@SenGianaris) June 2, 2019

For me #QueensPride is about love & power. We are more powerful when we love & share that with the world. We celebrate, remember & recommit to the ongoing fight for LGBTQ equality. Proud to march with family, friends & allies @Dromm25 @ocasio2018, @cabanforqueens @JumaaneWilliams pic.twitter.com/xTNVzPwM3m
— Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) June 2, 2019

Happy Pride Queens! pic.twitter.com/vMw5x63lrO
— Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) June 2, 2019

Happy Pride, Queens!

So honored to march with friends, neighbors, and supporters pic.twitter.com/WqEqeRv21j
— Tiffany Cabán (@CabanForQueens) June 2, 2019

Fantastic time at #QueensPride. Got to march & celebrate w/so many friends (@NYCCouncil @ChhayaCDC @QueensLibrary) — and campaign w/ @CabanForQueens who had a huge & joyous delegation. pic.twitter.com/o7ctqku7hF
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) June 2, 2019

Thank you @CatalinaCruzNY for being a phenomenal ally to the LGBTQIA+ community! Powerful speech! #QueensPride #newyork #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/17TYs63bP1
— Progressive Pocket Otter (@Ic0nick) June 2, 2019

Happy #PrideMonth I never found out who these unknown queens are from last years pride parade in NYC. If someone could help out that would make my entire day!! pic.twitter.com/B5UfyhPcKH
— alexis h (@lexiejhawk) June 1, 2019

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#queenspride #jacksonheights #pride #prideparade #queensprideparade ##queensnyc #queensny #CUNYpride
A post shared by *gloria* (@mylibrarythings) on Jun 2, 2019 at 9:51am PDT

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A photo from today's Queens Pride Parade. . . . . . #Queens #Queenspride #itwashottoday #QueensPrideParade #loveislove #rainbow #pride #transgender #queers #fluid #pansexual #cisgender #laguardiaandwagnerarchives #loveisloveislove #lgbtqia #lgbtq #newyorkcity #newyork #gayflag #pridemonth #stonewallriots #somewhereinnyc #pride #documentaryphotography #doxumentaryphotographer #prideparade #pridefest #pride
A post shared by ＬｕＬｕ (@venture4peace) on Jun 2, 2019 at 10:21pm PDT

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Tarab NYC for pride #nycpride #prideparade #queenspridenyc #queensprideparade #2019 #queens #pride #lgbtq #parade #loveislove #gay #queer #jacksonheights #photographer #photography #nycphotographer #newyorkcity #nyc #newyork #igdaily #igers #ig_shutterbugs
A post shared by Pixy Chick Photography (@pixychickphotography) on Jun 2, 2019 at 5:00pm PDT