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Gay pride sets Park Slope aflame with festivity

Gay pride sets Park Slope aflame with festivity
Photo by Arthur De Gaeta

Christine Quinn is one bangin’ gay gal.

The Council speaker flaunted her fine self alongside a bounteous bevy of fellow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folk, who put a jaunty foot forward in the Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade in Park Slope on Saturday, transforming the stretch from 14th to Union streets into a boulevard of eye-popping spectacles.

The affable lawmaker showed that she was just one of the gals by pausing along the route to snap photos, and share the spotlight with frolickers, including one decked out in a curly wig as pop princess Tina Turner.

Other marchers preferred to take a more risqué route — among them, brave bare-chested beauty Julie Sands, who proudly jiggled under a pair of stars painted in gay pride colors.

There was plenty of free-wheeling love along the way, too, courtesy of co-grand marshal Rev. Ann Kansfield of Greenpoint Reformed Church, who waved cheerily to spectators from her motorcade with and her children, John and baby Grace, snuggled beside her.

Paraders also displayed their poignant side by reserving a moment of silence for AIDS victims.

The parade was the twilight portion of the Brooklyn Pride Festival at Bartel-Pritchard Circle, held earlier in the day and featuring food and shopping, a play area for kids and families, and a main stage with live music, comedy, dance, and other performers.

Of course, you didn’t have to be gay to get a charge out of the rollicking revels.

Park Slope resident Monica Hughes, 65, said she comes every year with her pals to watch the action unfold.

“We’re a bunch of old-fogey heterosexuals, but we love to watch all the colorful hoopla anyway!”