Coronavirus: Long Island Pride March In Jones Beach Suspended

WANTAGH, NY — The 30th annual Long Island Pride march scheduled to take place over the summer at Jones Beach, has been postponed indefinitely due to the new coronavirus, organizers announced Friday. In a letter to email subscribers, David Kilmnick, president and CEO of The LGBT Network, said the June 14 event has not yet been canceled and that organizers plan to work with state and health authorities to reschedule the in-person Pride celebration once it is "safe to do so."

"As we all are well aware, we are living in unprecedented times,"Kilmnick wrote. "There are things we don’t know about the coronavirus and things we do know. One of those things we do know is that social distancing and staying home is saving lives…and that is the most important piece of knowledge we can hold onto at this time."

Kilmnick said peoples' safety and life is the organization's highest priority. To that end, the Pride march also saves lives, he said, and must continue, even if that means some changes are necessary.

"Pride is the vaccine of hope for so many young people and others who are not out,"Kilmnick wrote. "They see the beauty and power of tens of thousands of Long Islander’s smiling and joining together as one."

Kilmnick stressed that staying home does not mean people cannot be "out," and that organizers are looking into holding a virtual Long Island Pride celebration.