Despite the fact that I am a native New Yorker, currently living in New Jersey, 2012 marked my time at the NYC Gay Pride Parade. The experience was everything I imagined, and more. The joy shown on the faces of the marchers, and attendees alike, made it easy to forget for one afternoon, that in this day and age there are still people in this country that have the arrogance to discriminate against their neighbors, for any reason.

One of the most moving moments for me came when the float carrying some of our LGBT, US Military, paraded for the first time since DADT was finally repealed in 2011. Sadly, I missed the opportunity to capture that image. It wasn't until those proud services people passed, that I realized I had dropped my camera to my chest as I bleary-eyed, cheered along with the massive crowd standing with me in front of the infamous Stonewall Inn where the Stonewall riots took place over 40 years ago.