DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Sunday, June 26th 2011, 3:07 PM
Gov Andrew Cuomo (c.) and Speaker Christine Quinn (l.) march at the gay pride parade along Fifth Ave.
"Thank you Governor Cuomo," bellowed signs at Sunday's 2011 NYC Pride March.
Two days after New York's senate voted 33-29 to legalize gay marriage, the annual parade became the epicenter for the equality celebration, embodying this year's theme: "Proud and Powerful."
Half a million people were expected to take to the streets.
PHOTOS: Gay marriage legal in New York!
"I'm proud that New York finally legalized gay marriage," said first-time marcher Nathalie Rodriguez, 20, of Corona, Queens, who identified herself as a bisexual. "It's about time."
The gathering seemed even more meaningful for those who have been batting for LGBT rights for decades.
Take David Rudykoff, of Brooklyn, who carried an American flag umbrella and a sign that read: "I'm Age 80 And Withered But a Babe to Be Wed."
For him, New York's historic bill is bittersweet.
New York Citys annual Pride March began in 1970 as a commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. (Bryan Smith for News)
"My partner passed away 11 years ago. We were together 30 years," he said while walking down Fifth Ave. amid music, floats, hoots and cheers.
"He would have probably married me," he said fondly of Quentin Maule, who was 80 when he died.
But now, Rudykoff feels it's too late for him to walk down the aisle.
"You can't find anyone like him he was one in a million," Rudykoff said. "I'm happy for people who really wanted it."
knelson@nydailynews.com
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