New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle Host Large LGBTQ+ Pride Parades Amid Policy Backlash

Major American cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Toronto are hosting large Pride parades and celebrations to conclude Pride Month, with themes emphasizing both joy and protest. New York City's parade, the nation's oldest and largest, marches past the Stonewall Inn, a historic site linked to the LGBTQ rights movement, under the theme “Rise Up: Pride in Protest.” San Francisco’s event, themed “Queer Joy is Resistance,” features a march along Market Street and celebrations at Civic Center Plaza. These events come amid President Donald Trump's efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ friendly policies, including targeting transgender rights in the military, federal insurance, and sports participation. Organizers and participants are using this year's Pride to take a more defiant stance, highlighting ongoing struggles against political pushbacks. The celebrations blend jubilant parties with activism, marking the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling recognizing same-sex marriage nationwide.