Love, Michael (All images by Matthew Rettenmund)

My day at the NYC Pride March began at 11 a.m. and ended around 5 p.m. — and my feet are still refusing to let me forget it.

Among the first two people I encountered

But it was worth it.

First pic of the day set the tone — SO MANY young queers!

I know there is plenty of reason for cynicism — Deutsche Bank had a bus in the march — but every year I go, I'm uplifted by the sheer number of ecstatic, happy, ostentatious, proud people. For as many years as I can remember, I have also always been buoyed by the diversity, even before that became a buzzword. The sense of community is palpable.

It was also the first year the Progress Pride Flag seemed more prevalent than the usual Rainbow Pride Flag.

Coloring outside the lines

I shot the whole thing, pretty much, and an distilling here 100+ of my favorite photos, including some of the countless images I took of joy-filled Love, Victor star Michael Cimino, who set a new standard for allyship by stripping to the waist, dousing himself with water and running along the route in order to plug the Trevor Project.

Let's get this started!

Enjoy!

Michael was an MVP for the Trevor Project, hanging with friends including Nicholas Hamilton.

Check Out My Video of Michael Here!

Looking

Popular sign, referring to a raft of anti-LGBTQ bills sweeping the country

Leading the way

Born free

I know — how much freer can she get?! But it's now about anti-conservatorship.

I was around for the pre-march, watching prep

The Imperial Court — take a bow!

Surrounded by flags

Plenty of politics this year

It's the glasses for me.

I jokingly asked if they were in the right order — and they weren't and knew it and corrected it!

Gen Z

Keith, Sylvia, Marsha, Miss Major & Stormé — together in spirit

Six-pack of joy

Examples of groups I shot before the march began

Your five parade grand marshals — from top: Chase Strangio (ACLU), Dominique Morgan (Okra Project), Schuyler Bailar (trans athlete), Ts Madison (reality TV) & Punkie Johnson (SNL)

Photographer Steven Love Menendez ... with his able-bodied assistants

I ran into twerk king Jojo Guadagno from Boy Culture: The Series

A pair of fashion statements

Angelica Ross, ABC reporter Kemberly Richardson, Project Runway's Christopher Palu & others at the media kiosk

Fire Island's Tomás Matos & James Scully by the grandstand

NYC's former council member and state senator Tom Duane with former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman

Dykes on bikes — and elsewhere

Miranda rights are over, but Miranda Wrongs (I call dibs on the name) were in full swing.

Three girls three

A little queer muscle

A lot of queer muscle

Trans excellence

She had good taste.

It takes a Greenwich Village.

Everyone fights for the simplest freebies at these things.

Cheer nation

LGBTQ+ history belongs in the schools.

The visible jockstrap was on every third guy!

The above three slides are the folks from the Trevor Project's float, including Nicholas Hamilton.

Faces in the crowd

Michael Cusumano (right) came as Instagram Britney.

One for now, one for later

Playbill's float included Capt. Frankie Grande.

No cops allowed. When your union isn't headed up by a fascist Trumper, we'll talk. When your organization isn't beating the fuck out of POC and otherwise being useless, we'll talk.

Some feminine wiles

Abortion was a consistent theme.

I loved the sign.

Let's hope the youth vote helps — let's hope the youth vote!

Some rainbow beef

The leather fun

Floats that were purely prurient were rare — but welcome.

The hotness seemed backloaded — I saw most of these guys later in the day.

Susanne Bartsch was one of the few names on hand.

It's the penis drawn on his midsection for me.

Last gasps of beef — including a cop who could turn a lesbian. God, I hope he's pro-queer.

The End.