NYPD Suggests Fire Escapes Not Ideal For Gay Pride Parade Viewing

A suggestion from the 6th Precinct (Photograph by Sacha Lecca)

This Sunday is the annual LGBT Gay Pride March, which starts on Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street and then makes its way down Fifth, swings right onto West 8th Street and ends on Christopher Street. Reader Sacha Lecca let us know that on Wednesday night, signs were posted on all the apartment buildings on Christopher Street. The NYPD "recommended that viewing of this weekend's Heritage of Pride Parade not be done from fire escapes," due to safety—given concern over the structural integrity of the fire escapes and the possible harm to not only people on them but people below.

Heritage of Pride suggests, "To watch the March step-off you should be in the 50s or upper 40s on 5th Avenue. For larger crowds and high energy, anywhere in the village is ideal. For smaller crowds, many enjoy watching in the 30s, 20s, and teens on 5th Avenue." And this year's grand marshals for the parade are Oscar-winning Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, Harvey Milk's campaign workers and LGBT activists Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg, and Governor David Paterson. The parade starts at noon—let's hope the rain holds out. And if you go, you can share your photos with us by tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr or emailing us at tips(at)gothamist (dot)com.