Cherry Grove’s 19th annual LGBT Pride Parade took place on June 17 and Edie Windsor, whose lawsuit against the United States government led to the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage, served as the Parade’s Grand Marshal! Edie was accompanied by her wife, Judith Kasten-Windsor, Marriage Equality activists Cathy and Sheila Marino-Thomas, and a host of married Grove couples. Linda D’Ancona organized the festivities.
Homecoming Queen 2017 Ginger Snap led a contingent of Arts Project of Cherry Grove Board Members and Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. President Diane Romano led a group of that organization’s Board Members. The Dune Fund, the Cherry Grove Fire Department, and staffs of the Ice Palace, restaurants Top of the Bay and Island Breeze, and Sweet Licks Ice Cream Parlor were present. There was a Leather contingent made up of Messrs. Fire Island Leather 2017 Sir Joseph, 2005 Joseph Saporito, and 2001 this writer, along with John, Noah, and Eric.
Later in the afternoon, there was a showing, at the Community House, of Fred Anguera’s new documentary film “History in the Making,” drawing on the Marriage Equality New York Archives, which found the audience cheering with pride. Among those in the film are Edie Windsor and the late Thea Spyer, Cathy and Sheila Marino-Thomas and their daughter Jackie, ILGO’s Brendan Fay, MCC’s Reverend Pat Baungartner, New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane and Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell, former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, anti-Don’t Ask Don’t Tell activist Lt. Dan Choi, GMHC’s Krishna Stone, late rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker, Margaret Cho, and the Ice Palace’s Robert Lassègue. A reception for Edie Windsor followed.
A display of Pride Fireworks was postponed because of inclement weather in the evening.