Long Island Pride Parade in Huntington a mix of celebration, support

A boisterous Long Island Pride Parade set off Sunday in downtown Huntington with marchers, and those watching curbside, dancing, cheering and waving banners supporting LGBTQ rights that many in attendance said remain under attack.

The 36th edition of the parade included marchers representing the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus and the Huntington LGBTQ Task Force, as well as the cast of a production of "Hairspray" now playing in Oakdale. St. John’s Episcopal Church, at Main and Prospect streets in downtown Huntington, held a pride service before the parade.

Nicolina Keneipp, 38, of Malverne, was walking toward the parade route with her wife and their two young children (age 4 and 10 months), her mother and sister.

"It’s very important for us to celebrate pride, especially now having two children, just to show them what families look like," Keneipp said. "And it's a very important day to celebrate our family as well."

Keneipp said they used to attend the Pride march in Manhattan, but since having children, they come to Huntington.

"It's a little tamer," she said, "and a little more manageable than the city."

Crowds lined the route along Main Street, many waving the pride rainbow flag, wearing LGBTQ-themed T-shirts and whooping their support. A woman holding the hand of a young girl in a pink tulle dress wore a rainbow striped skirt and a T-shirt that read, "No Kings, Yes Queens." A man pulling a boy in a wagon wore one that said, "Jesus had two dads and he turned out OK."

A friendly pit bull mix sporting a rainbow bandanna greeted other onlookers with a wagging tail.

The event was organized by the New York LGBT Network.

Several participants and observers noted that celebrating and being visible is especially important now, as gay and transgender rights have faced growing political opposition across the country. Last year more than 600 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in 22 states, and more than 75 became law, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

"At a time like this, when it seems like the LGBTQ+ community is under attack from every angle, it's just so important just to be out there and say, we're here and we're not going anywhere," said Danny Schrafel, a baritone with the Long Island Gay Men’s chorus, as he marched with his fellow singers.

Many watching the festivities said they were there to support friends and the entire gay community. Joan Wadnik, of Commack, said she was there to support "the value of this community — this part of the whole community."

Ava McCarthy, 29, of Smithtown, stood along the route wearing a shirt that said, "Support your fruity friends," featuring a cartoon banana and strawberry. McCarthy said she and some other friends came "to celebrate everyone, no matter their identities, and [their right to] love whoever they love."

The parade ended at Heckscher Park, where families, couples and groups of friends visited the tents selling pride memorabilia, food and drinks, and others offering literature about mental health support and civil rights.

Chanise Janel, 33, of Brentwood, was there with her partner and their daughter. She said she thought in the six years she has attended the march, "people are even more confident in the fact that we need the pride and they’re happy to be here."