Donations from businesses and individuals help keep event going
View full sizeThe CNY Pride Parade begins at Syracuse City Hall with a flag raising. Roxanne Green had the honor of raising the flag.Four months ago, CNY Pride planning committee members put a desperate call out to the Syracuse community.
A typical CNY Pride Parade and Festival costs about $25,000 to put on, said Tim Ray, treasurer of the volunteer organization whose mission it is to celebrate and empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. But CNY Pride had only raised about $4,000.
“We sent a letter to anyone in the community we thought could help,” Ray said. “We were in very bad financial straits and we needed help.”
Several companies that had never participated in the festival decided to take part. Individuals and local businesses also donated enough money to keep the parade and festival afloat.
“The community really came out and stood behind us, which is a really good feeling,” Ray said, surrounded by more than 6,000 people Saturday at the plaza outside the Everson Museum of Art.
Ray said this year’s festival is the most significant for him personally. His husband, Michael Weinberg, died May 26 of liver cancer. Weinberg was the planning coordinator of last year’s CNY Pride Parade and Festival, and active in several LGBT associations. Ray said he and Weinberg were together for 20 years and legally married four years ago in Toronto.
“This is a very tough day for me ...,” said Ray, still wearing his wedding band. “But I have a lot of support here.”
About 200 people helped kick off the festival in front of City Hall, where Mayor Stephanie Miner read a proclamation and a rainbow flag was hoisted above a cheering crowd.
Miner, who in 2009 became the first political candidate to march in the event, was grand marshal of this year’s parade. CNY Pride officials said they wanted to honor Miner because she has supported policies that promote inclusion and equality for the LGBT community.
View full sizeSyracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner was the grand marshal of the CNY Pride Parade. She rode with her press secretary Lindsay McClusky. The parade included a dozen floats, most of which were designed by students in the Industrial Design Department at Syracuse University’s Visual and Performing Arts at The Warehouse.
Nikki Fenmore sported a hot pink dress as she rode on a float that the student turned into the shape of a giant high heel. Fenmore, 41, of Syracuse, said she has been in a relationship for 20 years with a man. She also was born a man, but lives as a woman.
“I see a lot of support from this festival,” Fenmore said. “When I was growing up in the 80s, it was very hard because I had nobody to turn to. Now there are a lot more outreach programs and more people to talk to. I think people are getting over their hang-ups and phobias.”
Ray said he also believes people are more accepting and more understanding today.
When the CNY Pride Parade began 22 years ago, some people covered their faces with bags as they marched through the city. “They wanted people to be aware there were gay people in their community, but some still wanted to remain anonymous,” Ray said. “Today, I don’t think you can get any more gay than I am.”
After Weinberg died last month, Ray said he asked the funeral home to list him as his husband in both his obituary and on his death certificate. The funeral home, he said, told him the state probably wouldn’t name him as Weinberg’s husband, but they would give it a try.
The state approved and Ray is listed on the death certificate as Weinberg’s husband.
“That was our last little civil rights fight we did together,” Ray said. “We’ve come a very long ways.”
Catie O’Toole can be reached at cotoole@syracuse.com or 470-2134.
» Attempt to intimidate gay artist has become inspiration for the Syracuse woman's work