Alterna March reboots to Pride roots
BY BOB KRASNER
It’s said that those who do not know history are
doomed to repeat it — but the Reclaim Pride Coalition,
organizers of the Queer Liberation March,
planned to do exactly that.
Fed up with what they call the corporate takeover
of the Heritage of Pride March (the big one), they put
together an alternative.
“It’s a march, not a parade,” explained photographer
Dustin Pittman, who attended the fi rst New York City
gay-rights march in 1970. “This brings it back to its
roots.”
With no fl oats or corporate sponsorship, Sunday’s
alternative march took the same route as the fi rst,
from Sheridan Square to Central Park. Enthusiasm
and handmade signs were the hallmark of pretty much
every group involved, from the artists with the Howl!
Happening gallery to the Revolting Lesbians.
Songs were sung (“Which Side Are You On?”)
and chants were heard (“Off the sidewalk! Into the
streets!”) all the way along the route, from what activist
lawyer Norman Siegel estimated were 40,000 participants
by the time they reached the park.
“There are 15 times more people here than I expected!”
exclaimed activist Gene Fedorko, who was
also there in 1970. “The energy is magnifi cent,” he enthused.
“I’ve been crying all morning.”
Gay rights were just part of the agenda, as placards
proclaimed the fi ght against all forms of injustice, including
subjects such as abortion, ICE, sex workers, the
N.R.A., white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, the rights
of the incarcerated and even hairstyle appropriation.
“Stop stealing our haircuts,” read one lesbian’s sign.
The day culminated with a rally on the Great Lawn,
a mix of comedy, political messaging and music. Organizer
Leslie Cagan explained that the alternative
march’s $200,000 budget was raised from foundation
grants, fundraisers and personal donations.
“We were committed to making it a community
event,” Cagan said.
Volunteers were also part of the equation, including
the many who stayed behind to help clean up, as a
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
Larry Kramer, seated in wheelchair, with,
from left, organizer/stage manager Jackie
Rudin, David Webster, Kramer’s husband, and
Rollerena, the legendary roller-skating drag
queen.
result of a request from the stage.
Entertainment provided by BETTY, Justin Vivian
Bond, John Cameron Mitchell and Kevin Aviance was
balanced by the impassioned speeches of Cecilia Gentili
and Larry Kramer, among others.
Kramer, the legendary playwright and AIDS activist,
had a sobering message for the crowd.
“I’m approaching my end, but I still have a few years
of fi ght in me,” he said.
These days, he noted, he is fi ghting against those
who are spending their time looking for drugs and
sex, rather than fi ghting to “make our world a better
place.”
“I love being gay, I love my people,” he said. “Please
give me something to
be proud of again, in
these dark and dangerous
days.”
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
Performance artist Brent Ray Fraser spread
the love around at the firehouse on W. 10th St.
Schneps Media TVG July 11, 2019 11