Supreme Court ruling makes pride parades historic, jubilant

A man holds a rainbow flag as he watches marchers during the annual Gay Pride Parade in New York June 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

SAN FRANCISCO - Hundreds of thousands of people on Sunday packed gay pride events across the US from New York to San Francisco, with overall attendance expected in the millions for what amounted to a celebration of a freshly endorsed right to marry.

In San Francisco, a parade that at times resembled a rainbow-colored dance party snaked through downtown. Cheerleaders, dancers and proud families of lesbians and gays swooped up Market Street as spectators 10 to 15 people lined both sides of the street.

There were "Hooray for Gay" and "Love Won" signs. There were rainbow flags and knee socks, umbrellas and tutus.

SF Pride Board President Gary Virginia said the exuberance was amplified given Friday's US Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples can wed in all 50 states. Still, he said more needs to be done in housing and job discrimination in the United States and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world.

"Today, we celebrate," Virginia said. "Tomorrow, we get back to work."