Upstate New York Pride in struggle

This year’s Pride march in Buffalo on June 7 was one of the best-attended lesbian, gay, bi and trans celebrations in this city’s history. Throughout the entire march, individuals and organizational floats pressed the increasing demand for same-sex marriage.

By far, the largest LGBT contingent was high school youth from throughout the Buffalo region who have struggled to form gay-straight alliances, which fight homophobic and transphobic bullying in their schools.

Lateisha Green contingent in Syracuse. WW photo: Leslie Feinberg

The Buffalo chapter of the International Action Center marched carrying a banner which read: “Justice for Dr. Tiller! We can stop anti-woman, racist, anti-immigrant and homophobic violence—together!”

The response to the banner was positively electric: cheers, applause, thumbs up, shouts of encouragement and many, many photographs. Numerous women and men, who have participated in decades of ongoing struggle to keep women’s clinics open in Buffalo, cheered the banner. A group of Latina lesbians chanted, “Si se puede” (Yes we can). Farther along, a group of African-American lesbians chanted in response: “Yes we can! Yes we can!”

Peace Council banner in Central New York march. WW photo: Leslie Feinberg

The measure of support for the banner demanding justice for Dr. Tiller—who was slain because he provided full reproductive health care for women, including abortion—is particularly noteworthy. Dr. Barnett Slepian, who provided similar medical services for women, was gunned down in Buffalo in October 1998.

Central New York: Pride in struggle

In spite of an all-day rain on June 20, Central New York Pride can take pride in its turnout.

Last year some 100 right-wingers in matching uniforms and berets aggressively menaced and harassed marchers in Syracuse, where the CNY march takes place. But that threat didn’t dampen the crowds that turned out this year—or their enthusiasm.

Buffalo Pride march. WW photo: Ellie Dorritie

One of the most powerful and poignant contingents was made up of family and friends of Lateisha Green, who was killed in November 2008 because she was a transwoman.

The Syracuse Peace Council, which marches in CNY Pride every year, carried a banner which read, “There is no peace without social justice.”

Lesbian IAC members from Buffalo traveled to join Syracuse IAC activists to participate in CNY Pride, marching under the banner which had generated so much excitement in Buffalo. Syracuse activists rallied with LGBT friends and allies under the theme “Pride in Struggle/Orgullo en la Lucha.” Signs demanded “Money for housing and education, not for war” and “The state has no right to legislate love.”