Historic March for LGBTs in NYC’s Lunar New Year Parade

For the first time in the parade’s 11-year history, an LGBT group was allowed to march in the annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, which took place Sunday in New York City’s Chinatown. About 300 gays and their supporters joined in the festive walk, wearing rainbow bandanas and waving fish and phoenix, symbols of prosperity and renewal. “It’s a huge step forward,” said Irene Tung, one of the marchers and a spokeswoman for Q-Wave, which led the gay contingent. Said Steven Tin, who runs the Better Chinatown Society, which organizes the parade: “Why not? We basically welcome groups that want to do a cultural celebration.”