NEW YORK (AP) — Ahead of New York City’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride march, organizers typically spend weeks mapping out the order of the floats, assigning placements based on factors like seniority and music volume.
This year, they’re wrestling with a question more fraught: how to plan a parade whose own participants have accused one another of war crimes and support for terrorism.
At Pride events across the U.S, internal tensions over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have seeped into the festivities, spurring boycotts and demonstrations at marches and exposing divisions within a movement firmly rooted in protest.
In New York, members of the Israeli consulate say they will march this year despite several other participating groups, and at least two of the parade’s four grand marshals, accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians.
Their usual float, festooned in rainbow-colored flowers and a Star of David, will be flanked by an added layer of private security when the march begins this Sunday.
“Unfortunately there’s a lot of people in the LGBT community that would rather stand with the enemies, with the side that is homophobic, and not with Israel,” said Itay Milner, a spokesperson for the consulate. “We’re aware of that sentiment but we will not be scared away.”
Elsewhere in the line of hundreds of parading groups, members of Tarab NYC, an advocacy group representing queer Middle Easterners and North Africans, say they will seek to “center Palestine” during the march, hoisting Palestinian flags as they chant, “No pride in genocide.”
Those marching with the group recently attended a de-escalation training after they were heckled and chased by counterprotesters at a Pride event in Brooklyn this month, according to the group’s founder, Bashar Makhay.
Similar confrontations have erupted in many arenas of public life as the war in Gaza has dragged on, prompting demonstrations and clashes on college campuses and more typically neutral settings, including some recent Memorial Day parades.
But the conflict has led to an unusual dynamic for some Pride participants, who now find themselves bracing for protests not only from far-right agitators and other outside groups, but also from activists within their own community. In recent weeks, pro-Palestinian LGBTQ+ groups have disrupted marches in Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and elsewhere to protest sponsors’ connections to Israel.
Several groups boycotted the Queens Pride Parade this month after the president of the LGBT Network, which organizes the event, expressed strong support for Israel and chided Palestinian activists in an online piece.
In San Francisco, Jewish groups expressed outrage after Pride organizers announced that there would be no Israeli float at this Sunday’s parade, one of the world's largest. The organizers released a follow-up statement clarifying that no one who registered for the event had been denied.
The large annual Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel, was canceled last month out of respect for the hostages taken by Hamas that remain in Gaza.
Sandra Perez, the executive director of NYC Pride, says the organization approaches its march with a “free speech mindset” and does not restrict the messaging of registered participants (though police officers are barred from marching in uniform). But, she said, she hoped the issue of the war would not “silence other members of the community.”
“Our concern with people choosing to express themselves or protest the issues they want to protest is that it doesn’t overshadow the issues facing the LGBTQ community,” Perez said.
Supporters of the Palestinian cause see Pride events as a natural venue to showcase solidarity with those facing oppression, noting the first march was held to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a riot that began with a police raid on a Manhattan gay bar.
In years past, Black Lives Matter activists briefly disrupted Pride events to call attention to promote more inclusion of people of color.
The recent war protests, some say, have further exposed a widening rift between legacy queer institutions, including those running the parades, and the younger and more diverse segments of the community that have become increasingly vocal about the plight of Palestinians.
“It is safe to say that everyone is thinking about the genocide that is happening in Gaza and Palestine across the board,” said Raquel Willis, a transgender writer who will serve as one of the grand marshals of the NYC Pride Parade. “The difference is whether people are being outspoken about it or not.”
As the responses to the war in Gaza have inflamed existing tensions within the community, they have also opened new fissures among once-aligned allies.
Since 2019, left-leaning activists fed up with the growing corporate presence at NYC Pride have hosted their own event, known as the Queer Liberation March. Long skeptical of outside funders, the group previously counted Housing Works, a nonprofit focused on fighting AIDS and homelessness, as its sole fiscal sponsor.
But this year, after organizers announced the march’s theme would include those facing “war and genocide,” as well as youths of color, Housing Works declined to get on board.
In an email to employees, the Housing Works CEO, Charles King, said the organization has not taken a position on the war in Gaza and would not do so at the march on Sunday.
“After much deliberation, we have decided that Housing Works should join the march under the banner of only the first theme, fighting for our Black and Brown youth,” he wrote.
In response, the organizers of the Queer Liberation March took to Instagram with a defiant message: Those that “remain silent in the face of wars and genocides,” they wrote, “aren’t representing the values of the Queer Liberation March.”
FILE — Protesters shout slogans against Israel's military operation in Gaza Strip during the annual Pride parade, in Athens, Greece, June 15, 2024. At Pride events across the U.S, internal tensions over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have seeped into the festivities, spurring boycotts and demonstrations at marches and exposing divisions within a movement firmly rooted in protest. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Pillar's single with one out in the 10th inning drove in Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels extended their winning streak to six, rallying for a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
“Belief. You can feel the energy changing where maybe earlier we talked about going out and winning and hoping we win. I think we’re starting to expect that every time we go on the field,” said Pillar, who had the fourth walk-off hit of his career and first since 2018.
With Ward as the automatic runner in the 10th, Luis Guillorme had a sacrifice bunt to move Ward to third. Detroit decided to have five infielders with Pillar up and the outfielders playing in left center and right center. Pillar, who came in as the designated hitter in the seventh inning, hit a looping single into left off Jason Foley (2-2) for the Angels second walk-off victory of the season.
“The 10th inning set up perfectly for us. We had a guy who could bunt and a guy in the hole that has been in those situations before,” manager Ron Washington said.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said with the five man infield they tried to play to Pillar's pull side, but he was able to get underneath the sinker.
“We played a good game. We didn't play one or two runs enough to win it. It's tough to start the road trip this way,” Hinch said.
The Angels trailed 5-2 before coming back. Ward had a two-run double in the seventh inning and Logan O’Hoppe tied it with a solo shot to center to lead off the eighth. It was the second straight night the Angels’ catcher homered in the eighth inning.
“We had some opportunities when we didn’t put the ball in play, but we kept grinding in every inning. Then Taylor came up with the big move to get us back in the game,” Washington said.
Jake Rogers had a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Reese Olson had a season-high nine strikeouts for Detroit, which has dropped five of six.
Rogers also had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning as he had his second three-RBI game of the season.
The Angels had a pair of defensive gems in the final two innings. O'Hoppe also made an off balance throw and Guillorme made a leaping grab and tag at second base to get Riley Greene out on a stolen base attempt in the ninth inning. Zach Neto also made a nice play on a sharp grounder by Colt Keith to end the 10th.
Ben Joyce (1-0) retired the Tigers in order in the 10th for the win.
Detroit got its first three runners aboard in the first but could only manage one run when Wenceel Pérez scored on Keith's fielder's choice.
The Angels took the lead with a pair in the third. Nolan Schanuel came home after Olson threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded and Willie Calhoun's grounder drove in Luis Rengifo.
Detroit responded with two in the fourth. Keith scored on Zach McKinstry's fielder's choice and Rogers' sacrifice fly brought home McKinstry.
Rogers extended the Tigers' lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a two-run shot to left-center. At 443 feet, it was the longest homer of his career.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: SS Javier Báez (lumbar spine inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Monday at Triple-A Toledo.
Angels: CF Mike Trout (left knee) is hopeful for a return by late July ... 3B Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain) is expected to face live pitching next week.
UP NEXT
Angels lefty Tyler Anderson (7-7), who is eighth in the majors with a 2.63 ERA, takes on Detroit RHP Casey Mize (1-6, 4.54 ERA), who is 0-6 in his last 11 starts.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels' Kevin Pillar heads to first on a single that drove in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels second baseman Luis Guillorme (15) holds up the ball after tagging out Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene on a steal attempt during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Carlos Estevez tries to pick off Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez at first base during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe (14) is congratulated by Luis Rengifo after O'Hoppe hit a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto takes the field before the Angels' baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels' Kevin Pillar watches his single that drove in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Kevin Pillar (12) is congratulated by teammates after he hit a single to drive in the winning run against the Detroit Tigers during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo (2) returns to the dugout after scoring a run on a groundout by designated hitter Willie Calhoun (5) against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers (34) high-fives a teammate in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry (39) is congratulated in the dugout after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez watches his single against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez (46) advances to second base as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto catches the throw during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning (47) throws to a Detroit Tigers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
