Kathy Najimy, who has been active in AIDS and animal-rights causes, fired up
the crowd with her advocacy of gay marriage. Najimy came directly from a perofrmance
of ‘Afterbirth: Kathy & Mo’s Greatest Hits,’ the off-Broadway
show she is playing with her long-time collaborator, Mo Gaffney.
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By Lawrence Pfeil, Jr.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Bearing witness to their struggle and achievements, on a picture-perfect day
of brilliant blue skies warmed by a radiant golden sun, the triumphant colors
of a proud people were unfurled in Bryant Park at the Kick-off Rally to Pride
2004, Sunday, June 20.
Leaders spoke of past accomplishments and future goals inspirationally, while
gay allies gave passionate voices of support to the cause of gay rights. Energetic
performers entertained the troops of every age, race, gender and sexual orientation
and celebrated their joy as balloons and bunting in their colors swayed gently
in the summer breeze.
The storybook gathering was a far cry from their first gathering as a “community” 35
years ago on a sweltering June night outside The Stonewall Inn, defiant of
police harassment and brutality and mourning the death and burial of their
beloved Judy Garland.
Only a month after the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, some 500 people gathered
in Washington Square Park for a “Gay Power” demonstration, an event
that is considered to be the first Pride Rally held anywhere. It was followed
that evening by a candlelight vigil in Sheridan Square where the disturbances
had take place for a week on five nonconsecutive nights.
Since then, the rally has been held in many different locations, with the
beautifully restored Bryant Park and New York City Library backdrop being home
since 1997.
The rally has been sponsored by Heritage of Pride since its formation in 1984,
following the dissolution of the existing Pride organization, the Christopher
Street Liberation Day Committee. Officially titled “The Rally: Pride
Starts Here,” it is considered the official kickoff of Pride Week in
New York City, and the first of a seemingly endless array of activities and
celebrations for every facet of the community.
The week culminates the following Sunday when the community again comes together
for HOP’s annual Pride March, the largest annual parade in New York City.
According to Heritage of Pride Director Anthony Dean, “Pride celebrations
across the country are reporting roughly a 50 percent increase in attendance
this year, which is fantastic. We’re hoping to see similar numbers here
as well.”
With attendance at past rallies averaging 5,000, this year’s rally was
expected to approach 8,000 during the four-hour event. While it is impossible
to have an exact head count for this kind of open event, HOP’s Media
Director Phil Mannino is reporting a substantial increase in attendance over
previous years.
“Judging by the size of the crowd at Bryant Park Sunday, I think it’s
safe to say attendance at the Rally certainly met our expectations and projections,” Mannino
said.
Emceed this year by “faith based, tax paying, American-loving political
humorist and family entertainer” (not to mention lesbian!) Kate Clinton,
attendees were treated to a wide variety of entertainers and speakers. There
was a little something for everyone, with performers like the rock band Housewives
on Prozac, dance music recording artist Reina, Slam Poet Stacyann Chin, Tony-Award
winner and Co-Grand Marshal Harvey Feirstein, and making even gay men do a
double take, the first Playboy centerfold to come out as a lesbian, Stephanie
Adams.
Perhaps none of the inspirational messages were as meaningful and supportive
as they were when they came from someone who isn’t gay — comedian
Kathy Najimy. Coming directly from a performance of “Afterbirth: The
Kathy and Mo Show’s Greatest Hits,” Naijimy shared with the crowd
that her little girl has an imaginary girl for a friend. And if someday they
decided to get married, she was going to sing at that imaginary wedding because
it’s their right to get married if they want to.
She also pointed out that the gay movement was unlike any other in history
because, at its core, it is motivated by one thing — love. Emcee Kate
Clinton echoed Najimy’s poignant words, saying the gay movement is not
about exclusion or taking anything away from others, but it’s about support
and inclusion. Simply put: “We are arms of mass affection.”
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