The organizing committee released a statement on its social media, which it later retracted.<\/a> There were concerns about the safety of Jewish lesbians attending the march. However, thousands of participants – many of whom showed strong support for Palestine – joined the march from Bryant Park to the fountain in Washington Square Park.<\/p>\nThe statement withdrawn by the Dyke Parade Committee said anti-Semitism would not be tolerated under any circumstances and stressed the need to “focus on the tragic plight of Palestinians”, acknowledge the pain felt by Jews following the rise in anti-Semitism and “mourn the[ing] the senseless loss of Jewish lives during and after the Hamas attack on 7 October\u201d. <\/p>\n
The announcement prompted a strong reaction from LGBTQ+ activist groups such as Act Up NYC, which stressed that its parade would be centered around Palestinian liberation, and queer prison abolition group Black & Pink, which canceled its parade altogether.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVarious protest artworks created by participants of the Act Up NYC group <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nThe organizing committee issued a post shortly afterwards to clarify that the withdrawal of the statement had not been voted on by the full committee. The organizing committee did not immediately respond Allergy<\/em> Request for comment. The march went on as planned, beginning outside the New York Public Library’s flagship building at 5 p.m. <\/p>\nDuring the march, Mattie, co-leader of the Act Up NYC march group, told Allergic<\/em> The group made a “strong statement to show up, speak out, take up space and put the Palestinian liberation movement at the center”; emphasized its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement; and stressed its message of “funding AIDS, not war.”<\/p>\n\u201cBlack trans and Black lesbian organizers have been at the forefront of our liberation movement,\u201d Marty said in her personal capacity. They urged participants to focus and listen to organizers like Quinn Jean, who led the march in a bright pink dress and a Palestinian flag with a Black Power fist and the words \u201cFree Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tRivianna Hyatt holds up the handmade olive tree sculpture they brought to the NYC Dyke, March 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThroughout the parade, Rivianna Hyatt and Michelle Blassou took turns holding up an olive tree sculpture made from papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 and recycled soda cans. Allergic <\/em>After reading the committee\u2019s retraction, they debated whether to join the march, but ultimately chose to come out \u201cin support of the Palestinian resistance as a dam.\u201d <\/p>\nHyatt and Brasu said they have attended numerous lesbian parades across the United States and Canada and that the New York parade is “always the best,” but Hyatt said they do not understand why the committee issued the statement and believe it conflates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people held signs with the statement “Jewish Levees Support Palestine” as they headed to Washington Square Park. One marcher, Sadie, 28, of Brooklyn, had the same words written on the back of her thigh. Allergic<\/em> \u201cThe Jews are safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAlthough the committee retracted its statement of concern for Jewish safety, many Jewish marchers made clear their support for Palestine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cZionists may not feel safe here, nor should they feel safe,\u201d Sadie continued. \u201cMy intention is not to make Zionists feel safe here, but I am Jewish and I want Jews to feel safe here because genocide is not a Jewish value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nRegarding the contradictory messages from the organizing committee, Sadie said that “two or three people on the committee made a statement, but no one agreed” was not a reason to cancel the lesbian parade. “For me, it was more symbolic to be there and show solidarity. [with Palestine] I would rather stay home no matter what the committee says,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tThe Fogo Azul Drum Corps kept spirits high during the 1.7-mile parade from Bryant Park to Washington Square Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the church\u2019s \u201cLadies of Choice\u201d choir sang \u201cGod Is a Dyke\u201d for the procession as it passed by. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tHead scarves, handmade signs and KN95 masks are a must for the New York City Lesbian Pride.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tLanguage is indeed a powerful tool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tBoobs. That’s it. That’s the title. (This photo was taken with permission.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tAt 7:30 p.m., the parade arrived at Washington Square Park, with thousands of people entering the park from under the Arch. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\tAs is tradition, hundreds of people celebrated by wading, splashing, kissing and dancing in the fountain at Washington Square Park. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n