This year marked the 25th Anniversary of Pride in Jackson Heights. This year’s parade was led by Grand Marshals Bianey Garcia of Make the Road; Sheltering Arms; and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, on Sunday, June 4, along 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

The Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee, Inc., is a nonprofit volunteer organization that produces the annual Queens Pride events the first weekend of every June in Jackson Heights, enjoyed by all. Their Winter Pride Annual Dinner fundraiser and awards gala, held on the last weekend of January in Astoria, brings together friends and supporters from Queens, all of New York City and beyond. Queens Pride is a member organization of InterPride, Inc., the international association of LGBT Pride organizers.

A moment of silence was held at the Jeanne and Jules Manford Post Office, the parade reviewing stand, for the murdered (1990) gay citizen, Julio Rivera. It was a case which galvanized the city’s LGBTQA community into political action. The Jackson Heights post office was recently renamed in honor of LGBTQA activists who founded PFLAG.

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