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A TALE OF TWO GAY PRIDES

New York Pride sees thousands dance, march NAKED and celebrate in colourful gay rights parade – while Turkish riot police crack down on BANNED march in Istanbul

As marchers in New York proudly defied hate, Turkish campaigners were beaten and arrested

WHILE happy crowds enjoyed a colourful gay pride parade in New York today, riot police with dogs, guns and riot shields ruthlessly crushed lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex activists defying a ban on a similar event in Turkey.

Hundreds of thousands of people watched marchers in colourful fancy dress - and in some cases no clothes at all - at the Big Apple's NYC Pride Parade.

 Hundreds of thousands of spectators turned out to view the 48th Annual Heritage of Pride March
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Hundreds of thousands of spectators turned out to view the 48th Annual Heritage of Pride MarchCredit: Barcroft Media
 But campaigners protesting a ban on Istanbul's Pride Parade faced violence and oppression
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But campaigners protesting a ban on Istanbul's Pride Parade faced violence and oppressionCredit: Getty Images
 Some marchers flashed the flesh at the New York Pride Parade
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Some marchers flashed the flesh at the New York Pride ParadeCredit: Alamy
 Turkish cops drag away a campaigner for gay rights in Istanbul
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Turkish cops drag away a campaigner for gay rights in IstanbulCredit: Getty Images

But police used tear gas to disperse crowds gathering to fight for gay and transgender rights at Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride, which has been banned by the Istanbul governor's office for the third year in a row.

Activists said plastic bullets were also used and riot-control cops were dispatched to the area, while pictures taken at the scene reportedly show Turkish nationalists attacking and abusing protesters.

Turkey's official Anadolu news agency said "an estimated 20 people" were detained after protesters ignored warnings to disperse because the march did not have a permit.

 Thousands danced and marched down fifth Avenue to celebrate
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Thousands danced and marched down fifth Avenue to celebrateCredit: Splash News
 A sock secured by a thong and some roller skates are the only clothing this marcher needed
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A sock secured by a thong and some roller skates are the only clothing this marcher neededCredit: Splash News
 This man with a sign saying 'LOVE' leaves very little to the imagination
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This man with a sign saying 'LOVE' leaves very little to the imagination
 A dancers shows off his impressive skills to the cheering crowd
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A dancers shows off his impressive skills to the cheering crowdCredit: Splash News
 The event is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year
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The event is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every yearCredit: Getty Images
 Marchers wearing rainbow flags share a kiss
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Marchers wearing rainbow flags share a kissCredit: Alamy
 Protesters say LGBTQ rights are being eroded by the Trump administration
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 Protesters say LGBTQ rights are being eroded by the Trump administrationCredit: Getty Images

In New York a group of marchers heading down New York's Fifth Avenue carrying photographs of US President Donald Trump and his press secretary, Sean Spicer, as others waved banners bearing the word 'RESIST' and the rainbow flag of the Pride movement.
Brad Hoylman, a Democratic lawmaker in the New York State Senate, said lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were "under assault" by the Trump administration.

He said: "He already rolled back rights for transgender students, for example, and the list is on and on.

"So we have a lot more work to do, that's why we are here today."

Participants included Chelsea Manning, the transgender U.S. Army soldier who served seven years in prison for leaking classified data before former President Barack Obama granted her clemency.

"Honored to represent the ACLU at this years NYC Pride March," Manning said on Twitter, posting a photo of her riding in a red convertible.

"Started to lose my voice from screaming so much," Manning, who was released from a military prison in May, added.

 A gay rights campaigner mocks officers blocking the Istanbul parade
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A gay rights campaigner mocks officers blocking the Istanbul paradeCredit: Getty Images
 Police officers with dogs chase LGBTQ rights activists
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Police officers with dogs chase LGBTQ rights activistsCredit: Reuters
 Turkish protesters defied the ban and wore rainbows, a symbol of gay pride
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Turkish protesters defied the ban and wore rainbows, a symbol of gay prideCredit: EPA
 Tear gas was used on protesters defying the ban
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Tear gas was used on protesters defying the banCredit: Getty Images
 A man angrily gestures at a police officer with a dog in Istanbul
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A man angrily gestures at a police officer with a dog in IstanbulCredit: EPA
 Defiant Turks faced down police officers blocking the planned parade route
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Defiant Turks faced down police officers blocking the planned parade routeCredit: Getty Images
 Riot cops wielded pepper spray ball guns and riot shields
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Riot cops wielded pepper spray ball guns and riot shieldsCredit: Getty Images
 A furious demonstrator is arrested by Turkish police
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A furious demonstrator is arrested by Turkish policeCredit: EPA
 Turkish nationalists confronted LGBT rights activists
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Turkish nationalists confronted LGBT rights activistsCredit: Getty Images
 A protester openly defies the ban, which has been put in place for the past three years
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A protester openly defies the ban, which has been put in place for the past three yearsCredit: EPA
 Rights campaigners say the parade has been banned because of a rising level of religious conservatism in Turkey
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Rights campaigners say the parade has been banned because of a rising level of religious conservatism in TurkeyCredit: Reuters

As a candidate, Trump promised to protect gay people. But his move in February to revoke the Obama administration's guidance letting transgender students choose which gender bathroom they use, and his executive order last month to promote religious liberty have been seen by some as discriminatory.

The New York march's grand marshals this year include the American Civil Liberties Union, which was chosen for its history of litigation defending gay rights; Brooke Guinan, a transgender woman who works as a firefighter in the city; and Geng Le, a gay rights activist in China.

 New York was a sea of colour and costumes today
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New York was a sea of colour and costumes todayCredit: Barcroft Media
 Bikers proudly displayed rainbows as they rode through New York
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Bikers proudly displayed rainbows as they rode through New YorkCredit: Getty Images
 The march route ends where riots broke out in 1969 after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar
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The march route ends where riots broke out in 1969 after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay barCredit: EPA
 A marcher shows off his physique while wearing a cowboy hat and high heels
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A marcher shows off his physique while wearing a cowboy hat and high heelsCredit: Splash News
 A parade participant takes a swipe at President Trump
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A parade participant takes a swipe at President TrumpCredit: Splash News
 The first Pride Parade took place a year after the Stonewall riots
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The first Pride Parade took place a year after the Stonewall riotsCredit: Splash News

The march route ends on Christopher Street in Manhattan's West Village to commemorate the riots that broke out there in 1969 after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in an event seen as a turning point in the gay rights movement. New York's first Pride march started close by a year later.

Turkish authorities allowed pride marches to take place for more than a decade since the first one was held in 2003. Up to 100,000 people attended Istanbul Pride in 2014.

But in 2015, police dispersed crowds using tear gas and water cannons after a last-minute ban. In 2016, amid a spate of deadly attacks blamed on the ISIS or on outlawed Kurdish militants, the event was banned again but participants still tried to gather.

Pride organisers think the celebrations have been banned since 2014 because they coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and a rise in religious conservatism.

Next month London will host the biggest LGBT+ parade in the UK, with thousands of people travelling the route either by foot or on floats.


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