Celebrating A Year of American Marriage Equality

It is officially the one year anniversary of marriage equality being passed and accepted in the US. And citizens are celebrating their victory at the pride parades across several US cities, including New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, and Seattle.

American Pride Week couldn’t have come at a better time with the recent Orlando tragedy that resulted in 49 people being killed. The PRIDE parades are a perfect opportunity to remind the US (as well as the rest of the world) how important it is to continue to celebrate and stand up for gay rights and gender equality. PRIDE parades and celebrations have come a long way in the US since the first PRIDE parade held in 1970, and Americans have seen a huge shift in marriage and gender equality.

Businesses across New York City were well ahead of schedule this year by displaying rainbow stickers on shop windows and writing messages on their menu boards, a few days before the official pride parades began, to show their support for the gay rights movement.

Benny’s Burritos, in Greenwich Village, New York was one of the most festive businesses in the area as they hung rainbow streamers and flags in its storefront. A Benny’s Burritos employee had also designed PRIDE-themed shirts for all the staff to wear during the festivities.

Diversity certainly doesn’t go unnoticed at these PRIDE parades with people from various cultural backgrounds and with religious beliefs taking part in the street marches. The New York parade saw Catholics flying flags, Muslim and Jewish groups waving banners and a group of Mormons walking down Christopher Street.

Since marriage equality was passed in the US exactly one year ago today, it has brought both local communities and capital cities closer together. People seem to be much more accepting of each other, no matter what their sexually is. With marriage equality set in stone, PRIDE parades and celebrations in the US will continue to grow dramatically.