Massive crowds flocked to Manhattan on Sunday to celebrate the 2023 NYC Pride March.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, their allies and elected officials marched from Fifth Avenue through Greenwich Village, passing by the historic Stonewall Inn.

“I always think about Marsha P. Johnson. She was a trans woman, she threw the first brick at Stonewall,” said Holden Smith, who attended the March for the first time as an openly trans man.

“No I’m not letting anyone suppress me for being who I am,” he continued.

The streets of Manhattan transformed into a sea of rainbows with New Yorkers proudly proclaiming their love, acceptance and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.

“As a lesbian myself, I feel like gay people should be able to walk the streets without getting hurt,” said parade goer Parker Tiburcio. “They should be able to accept themselves and be free with themselves.”

The roots of the Pride Movement began with the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.

One year later, the first NYC Pride March was held on Christopher Street.

“Because of the history that we have, we’re able to grow as an overall community. Without the Stonewall riots, we wouldn’t have the biggest community that we have today,” said Tiburcio.

Over the last 50 years, there have been many strides towards equality as well as setbacks — from the AIDS epidemic of the 80s to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

But now, the LGBTQ+ community is facing a new wave of discrimination.

“More recently with the legislation against trans people and drag queens, this is really an important year for everybody to come out and celebrate and show support,” said Justin Rowe, who attended the Pride March with his husband.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 20 states have passed bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth since 2021. An estimated 130,000 trans kids and teens live in those states.

“It’s horrible for those people who never get to feel like their body is home. I feel like it’s pretty privileged being white and living in New York. It’s a privilege to be able to have that access,” said Smith.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community say they will continue to stand together in the face of oppression and discrimination, and provide a safe haven for those whose rights are under attack.

“I want everyone to feel safe, not just in the actual place that they live, whether that’s safe with their families, safe in their hometowns but safe within themselves,” said Smith.

To mark Pride, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new legislation Sunday, protecting access to gender-affirming care in New York, and urges other states to do the same.