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I really wanted to stop the whole parade and implore Mrs. I realized I was part and party to a moment of United States history taking place. Clinton and we got to the front of The Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay civil rights movement. Quite the contrary as I marched in the same parade as Mrs. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered-straight and gay mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters of every age, color, type, persuasion to honor their loved ones lost. The quilt was bigger than a football field, with mementos and tributes in memory of those whose lives were lost. I remember once in 1987 visiting the AIDS Memorial quilt displayed on the mall in Washington. It was thrilling for the LGBTQ community to be acknowledged by the White House. Surrounded by Congressman Barney Frank, New York State Senator Tom Duane and Rudy Giuliani. I got to snap my own at the corner of 14th street and 5th avenue. Many people took pictures with First Lady Hillary Clinton that day. Finally gays, lesbians, and their soul brothers and sisters were being recognized by a highly visible woman. It was a moment of validation for tens of thousands of people who felt marginalized by those at the top of the political field for most of our lives. I’ve heard the cheering roar of what a large crowd sounds like, but from what I can remember, I hadn’t heard anything like the cheering Mrs. Arenas, stadiums, you name it with, bands I played keyboards in, opening up for Queen, U2, INXS, The Allman Brothers, Tom Petty and many others. In my younger years I’ve performed in front of huge crowds. At the time it was a thrilling event, even by my own high thrill standards. I was there marching with the New York City mayor, having been invited by a state supreme court judge whose name escapes me now. It was the first time a first lady ever marched in the parade. On June 26, 2000, First Lady of The United States of America Hillary Clinton joined the Gay Pride Parade in New York City.