Pride parade organizers remember decades long struggle to host events
David Kilmnick says he and his fellow Pride parade organizers were denied permits in every single township to have an event.
May 31, 2023, 7:14 PM
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There are a number of parades and celebrations planned for Pride month across Long Island, and organizers recall how it was a struggle in the past to get events approved.
David Kilmnick says he and his fellow Pride parade organizers were denied permits in every single township to have an event.
"We remember very clearly 33 years ago being told 'no we can't march,'" says Kilmnick.
He says they went to court and won the right to march just days before the second Sunday in June 1991.
"In all my decades of doing activism and work with the LGBTQ community, I will never forget that day, how empowered I felt and how much pride I felt," says Kilmnick.
About 3,000 people were at the inaugural Pride parade to show their love and support.
This year, there are parades in several communities.
Pride Parades on Long Island:
Long Island Pride parade, Huntington, June 11
Babylon Pride parade June 4
Patchogue Pride parade, June 4
North Fork Pride Parade, June 24
Roman, an LGBTQ advocate, is one of the founders of the Babylon Pride parade. He says it's important for people to be able to express themselves in their hometowns.
