The riot is noted as a major change in the gay rights movement.Ĭompanies like Citizens Bank, MAC Cosmetics and PetSmart all marched in the parade on Sunday, carrying rainbow banners and posters. This year, the parade’s theme was “Stonewall 50,” honoring the 50th anniversary of the demonstration at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 in New York City, where attendants retaliated against a police raid of the nightclub. The parade lured about 25,000 people to the city’s Gayborhood from 11th and Broad Street to Chestnut and Pine Street, to Penn’s Landing to celebrate gay history.
The scene was just one of many at the annual Philadelphia Pride parade on June 9.
Confetti seemed to fall from the sky above Locust Street as rainbow flags twirled through the air in the hands of drag queens.īehind them, the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus serenaded the crowd with a cover of The B-52s’ “Love Shack” while aboard a parade float covered in pink balloons.
