The image of a uniformed firefighter amid thousands of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals, some clad in shorts and T-shirts, others in heels and leather thong underwear, spoke volumes about the diversity of the gay rights movement 30 years after a police raid sparked an uprising at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village and made the Stonewall a powerful symbol of resistance. Firefighter Tom Ryan walked soberly down Fifth Avenue yesterday, the Fire Commissioner at his side, the Mayor a few feet ahead, and a gyrating, feather-bedecked moving carnival of gay Brazilians behind.įor the first time in the 30-year history of the Gay and Lesbian Pride March, an active-duty firefighter in blue dress uniform was marching in the parade, and the Fire Department, known for its heavily male, tradition-bound culture, was recognizing Fireflag, a gay firefighters' group, as an official ''line organization'' in the parade.
