By AUSTIN FENNER and SAMUEL GOLDSMITH, AP
Last updated: 12:56 pm
June 30, 2008
Posted: 2:51 am
June 30, 2008
New York's gay community yesterday embraced Gov. Paterson at the 39th annual pride parade, as the governor, who supports recognizing same-sex marriages, ignored medical advice and marched a day after undergoing eye surgery.
"The doctors told me I couldn't march today. I ran 8½ miles Friday. I can u>march today, and I will," Paterson said just before beginning the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade down Fifth Avenue with thousands of celebrants. He became the first governor to walk in the procession, one month after his executive order paved the way for recognizing same-sex marriages from other states.
"What he did . . . sends a message that leadership isn't about waiting but about finding the opportunity, about finding the way to move progress and civil rights forward," said gay Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
California this month joined Massachusetts as the only states to grant gays full marriage rights.
"Everyone here is thinking, if California can do it, we should be able to . . . soon," said parader Jim Saslow.
Marchers represented an array of sexual subcultures - from gay Peruvians in Inca headdresses to butch-femme lesbians to big, hairy men, called "bears," flaunting their paunches.
Mayor Bloomberg also marched, as did Sen. Charles Schumer, who gushed, "I'm having a great time!"
