Thousands packed the streets of Houston, New York, Chicago and other cities around the country this weekend to bask in pride and show their support for the LGBTQ community, determined to protect hard-won rights amid concern they’re suddenly under threat.
The events, while still full of boisterous celebration, took on a new tone days after the Supreme Court struck down the right to abortion. The decision — and particularly a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas that questioned the right to same-sex intercourse and marriage — cast a pall over the previously planned events.
“It was definitely a punch in the gut,” said Travis Torrence, 41, the Grand Marshall of the Houston Pride Parade and a lawyer at Shell Plc. He found solace, though, in words from one of the city’s beloved native daughters.
