Queens celebrates Pride Month with parade as politics casts shadow on festivities

The borough of Queens joined in on Pride Month festivities with a joyous parade Sunday, but political snubs and infighting cast a shadow over the rainbow-hued celebration.

Mayor Adams marched in the colorful procession with the Gay Officers Action League of the New York Police Department — which has been excluded for a second year from marching in uniform in Manhattan’s much bigger Gay Pride Parade on June 26.

“We’re really excited about marching today. I’m full of pride,” said the mayor, who himself has come under fire for naming two Christian pastors to his administration who had made anti-gay remarks.

The thousands of paradegoers along the route seemed unfazed by the politics and welcomed the raucous celebration, especially after COVID-19 dampened Pride events for the past two years.