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People can get prided out in June because there are many events now, many Prides. The other boroughs are doing Pride parades. Queens, for example, has been doing a Pride Parade for the past 15 years. In Queens, Danny Dromm, who started the parade, and others have said that the increased visibility of the LGBT community has meant that whereas fifteen years ago few politicans wanted to show up to march now there are many. Marching can make a difference. Staten Island had a Pride Parade this year, so perhaps their politicians will also become more supportive. Manhattan is not the center anymore. Many politicians also hold Pride events. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall has opened Queens Borough Hall to the LGBT community since she became Borough President.

Marching is important because it makes politicians notice your community. A community which could not organize parades would not be taken as seriously. LGBTs are still not equal so there are many reasons to march. While one can celebrate the New York State Assembly finally voting for marriage equality, there is still the battle of swaying the New York State Senate. And the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act still has not made it out of committee.

Maybe the format of the parade has to be reconsidered.

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