Arts & Entertainment
The 49th Annual NYC Pride March: See Pics Of The Parade
See photos of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cynthia Nixon and more of Daniela Kirsch's Pride March coverage below.
8:48 a.m.
I'm the very first press person in the starting area of the parade at 16th and 7th avenue.
"As soon as they bring me a table I will start checking you in." says the media guy.
9:15 a.m.
I put on sunscreen. I took a new bottle of 50+ water resistant sun protection with me. By the end of the day, it will be empty.
9:30 a.m.
Tennis legend and LGBTQ activist Billie Jean King, one of the grand marshals of this year's Pride March, is here with her partner Ilana Kloss.
"I know her publicist," says one of the photographers. "She will let me take photos." I follow her and snap a few pictures, too.
10:35 a.m.
The press conference is located in the only spot on 16th street not protected by tree leaves. We are baking in the sun, and so are the grand marshals.
"The Pride March is a reminder that each one of us has the opportunity and the ability to live our lives with honesty and can be our authentic self in everything we do. At home, at work and in the community," says Billie Jean King.
10:54 a.m.
Emma Gonzales, activist and advocate for gun control, is here. She is notoriously reluctant to pose for photos. Today, we get a few shots while she is reading her statements to the press.
"As an LGBTQ+ community we have come an incredibly long way in a pretty short amount of time, and I look forward to continuing to fight alongside these good troublemakers and make our collective mark on the world," says Emma. "We are here, we are queer, we are loud, we are pride. Let's march!"
11:15 a.m.
The photographer group follows Emma down the street to the portable restrooms. We need a full-length shot of her, but Emma's entourage is blocking us all the way.
"Girl, just let us take one photo, and we can all be done with it in 30 seconds." one of them says to her. She walks away.
12:04 p.m.
The trio Ménage a Trois sings the national anthem. The parade is officially kicked off!
12:09 p.m.
Dog fashion designer Anthony Rubio is front of the line with his cute chihuahuas Bogie and Kimba.
12:10 p.m.
Every entertainment photographer in the city is on the streets shooting today. It's a family fest.
"I have a secret weapon," says the Russian shooter and pulls out a foldable paper stool. Good call.
12:23 p.m.
Let's do this. I'm all psyched up now. I'm in the middle of the street with the marchers. Manhattan feels even more as the center of the universe today. Left and right behind the barriers are large crowds of mostly young teenage kids in colorful clothing cheering on the marchers. It's like Berlin Love Parade in the 90ies but without the drugs.
12:31 p.m.
During the parade, the marchers throw all kinds of merchandise into the crowds. Headbands, t-shirts, chains, whistles, and buttons, mostly in neon. By the end of the day, everybody is in costumes, and the city is covered in an explosion of colors. Every drag queen in the country has emptied out her closet over Manhattan.
12:32 p.m.
Governor Andrew Cuomo and his wife are here. They brought a large confetti cannon. When it fires, the party really starts.
12:46 p.m.
The mayor is here, too.
I see a lot more politicians during the day. It's very chic to be gay these days.
12:48 p.m.
Drag of course!
12:54 p.m.
I've seen you around!
1:01 p.m.
For the LGBTQ+ community!
1:05 p.m.
Hi, there!
1:12 p.m.
Hula hoops are back!
1:45 p.m.
Christine Marinoni and Cynthia Nixon.
2:11 p.m.
Over 400 groups walk the parade. The largest wagons are sponsored by corporations, and they brought their employees. I wonder if they had an internal email conversation beforehand: "If you are gay, transgender, love drag or even better all of it, please come to HR, we want to make you the face of our Pride March campaign!"
2:21 p.m.
The most playful and fun groups are the activists.
2:32 p.m.
Delta has drag flight attendants.
2:48 p.m.
"Grab 'em by the midterms!"
3:02 p.m.
The girls from the TV show Broad City are here!
3:21 p.m.
I ask one of the photographers if my face is sunburnt.
"No, you're good."
"How are you?"
"I forgot to take water." He looks exhausted. An hour later I take a break at a nearby bodega. I buy an extra bottle of water and bring it to him.
3:31 p.m.
Can I get a coke, please?
4:02 p.m.
My last shot from the parade. These girls have fun!
4:34 p.m.
On my way home I see a girl throwing up in impressively long waves over a barrier. Even her vomit is colorful. The cop next to her looks at me and shrugs his shoulders.
5:56 p.m.
I stop at a Puerto Rican supermarket and buy a leaf of aloe vera. At home, I cut it in pieces and smear the juice on my skin. That's a relief. I might get away without a sunburn.
Daniela Kirsch is co-founder of NameFace — a facial recognition application that can identify celebrities in photographs. Through her technical and creative expertise, Kirsch has changed the entertainment industry, and she knows more than just a thing or two about photographing A-list events.
See more exclusive red carpet coverage from Daniela Kirsch:
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