
Long Island Pride Parade, with a theme of 'Defiant Joy,' draws thousands to Huntington
When the Long Island Pride Parade began in 1991, the organizers were turned away from Port Jefferson and Northport, then had to sue the Town of Huntington in federal court for a permit. Marchers faced protesters who hurled insults, Newsday reported at the time.
Now in its 35th year, the parade on Sunday attracted about 5,000 registered marchers and many thousands more spectators who thronged both sides of Main Street in downtown Huntington.
Hosted by the Hauppauge-based LGBT Network with the theme "Defiant Joy," the parade ended in Heckscher Park with performances by Tina Burner, a drag performer from "RuPaul’s Drag Race," and Glen Cove native Shye Roberts, who recently sang on "The Voice," among other celebrities.
Unlike 35 years ago, there were no protesters and the parade received support from more than two dozen official sponsors. But many participants told Newsday nothing can be taken for granted — especially given various states’ bans on gender-affirming care and the Trump administration’s recent decision to rename a Navy ship originally named for Harvey Milk, the gay rights icon and Navy veteran who was born on Long Island.
"We have fought for every single ounce of rights that we have, and every single ounce of dignity that we have," parade co-founder David Kilmnick told Newsday. "We're marching for every single LGBTQ person under attack, we’re marching for Harvey [Milk], and we will not be erased."

Alyssa Marko, of Sirens NYC, a women- and queer-inclusive motorcycle club, at the Long Island Pride Parade on Sunday in Huntington. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
The parade kicked off with a roar, led by Sirens NYC — a women- and queer-inclusive motorcycle club that, among other things, delivers breast milk and baby supplies on two wheels to mothers in need, according to Alyssa Marko, the club's secretary.
More than 130 groups marched, ranging from the Deer Park Gay Students Alliance, to St. John’s Episcopal Church of Huntington, to the Empire State Snow Dog Club — which included a gray husky in a rainbow tutu.
Bill Fotheringham, a Navy veteran who lives in Rockville Centre, said he marched as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and in opposition to the Trump administration’s decision to remove about 1,000 openly transgender people from the military.
"In the Navy, I didn't care about what your politics were, or whether you’re Black, white, whatever," he said. "It's all about you having my back and [me] having your back."
Renee Morgan wears a Pride-inspired balloon dress. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
Also marching was a garrison of "Star Wars" stormtroopers who looked like they could have just walked off the Death Star — except they wore rainbow armbands.
"The Empire doesn't care about your sexual preferences, your gender," said Mark Grubbs, one of the stormtroopers.
The Suffolk County Police Pipe Band marched, as did a handful of officers from the department’s LGBTQ society.
"We feel a lot of support from the community, and we also want to be supportive for the community," said officer Adilia Murillo, the society vice president.
Ryan Cassata, a singer-songwriter originally from Bay Shore who is transgender and was one of the parade's grand marshals, said receiving gender-affirming care saved his life. After coming out, he was bullied to the point of becoming suicidal, he said.
"I remember as a youth feeling so alone, and that feeling that could kill you," Cassata told Newsday. "Right now is probably the most dangerous moment in history for trans people, in my lifetime. ... But I think we need to be out. We will not be pushed back into closets of shame — we need to stay proud."
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