New York City turned a sea of rainbow colors Sunday as several million people flooded the streets to celebrate WorldPride, including a record number of parade participants, organizers said.
The huge spectacular — billed as the biggest LGBTQ demonstration and celebration in the world — saw the city swamped with extravagant outfits and noise from constant cheering.
Parade organizers said there were about 150,000, or twice the usual number, of participants marching down Fifth Avenue this year, easily the most ever. They estimated that another more than 2.5 million, or a greater than the typical number, showed up along the sidelines to cheer them on.
The event carried extra meaning this year, as it noted the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Starting at noon at 26th street, the parade snaked slowly and joyfully down Fifth Avenue with contingencies from countries around the world.
“This is my family here,” said New Jersey bartender Yaritza Figueroa, 26, who had a heart shaved into the back of her head featuring rainbow flag colors.
“It feels great, and it’s empowering to see so many different people from all different backgrounds come together.”
The parade’s grand marshals included the cast of TV’s “Pose,” UK Black Pride co-founder Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and transgender activist Monica Helms.
Melissa Etheridge is due to headline the closing ceremony in Times Square, with other performers including Jake Shears, British singer MNEK, Deborah Cox and the cast of Broadway’s “The Prom.” Margaret Cho is the host.
Madonna, meanwhile, is due to close out the final day of Pride Island at Pier 97 at Hudson River Park.
Earlier, there was also a breakaway protest, with at least 1,000 joining the Reclaim Pride Coalition’s Queer Liberation March which protested how mainstream and corporate the official parade had become.