Married… with Children actress Amanda Bearse, who broke ground by publicly coming out as a lesbian in 1993. “I am your next-door neighbor,” Bearse asserted in her speech, garnering applause from the massive crowd.The parade and rally coincided with the fourth-ever Gay Games, an international sporting event held every four years a la the Olympics since 1982.
In 1994, the Gay Games were held in New York City and attracted 10,864 athletes, more than the 9,386 at the actual Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
Though it’s not featured in this clip, lifelong icon Sir Ian McKellan delivered the Games’ closing address.The Network Q clip ends with footage from the subway after the rally.