Thousands gather in Huntington for Long Island Pride Celebration
Thousands of people gathered in Huntington Village for the 36th Annual Long Island Pride Celebration, honoring this year's "Unstoppable Pride" theme with a parade, festival, and message of unity and resilience.
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Rainbow flags and vibrant displays of support filled the streets of Huntington Village on Sunday as thousands gathered for the 36th Annual Long Island Pride Celebration.
The annual event, one of the largest Pride celebrations on Long Island, is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees throughout the day. The parade stepped off at noon, traveling down Main Street before concluding at Heckscher Park.
This year's theme, "Unstoppable Pride," highlights resilience, unity, and the ongoing fight for equality within the LGBT community.
Organizers say the message is especially important as concerns over discrimination and hate crimes continue. According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, more than 500 anti-LGBT hate crimes were reported statewide between 2020 and 2024.
"We show that we are a big, powerful community," said David Kilmnick, president and founder of the New York LGBT Network. "That's real important to show that we won't go backwards. We hold our ground now. There is still a long way to go to achieve safety, equality and justice for our community."
Following the parade, attendees headed to Heckscher Park for a free festival featuring live music, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, a family zone, and dozens of local community organizations.
News 12 meteorologist Alex Calamia is also serving as host for this year's festivities.
