NEW  YORK (UPI)  -- A  slight shortening  of the  lavender line  guiding
lesbians and  gays down Fifth  Avenue Sunday  in the annual  Heritage of
Pride  parade failed  to  put  a damper  on  the  colorful yet  peaceful
celebration.

Organizers of the  24th annual march reminded it is  still ``the largest
annual civil rights demonstration in the world.''

However, the  generally light-hearted 2.5 mile  long celebration stopped
in its  tracks at 2:30  p.m. for a minute  of silence to  remember those
who have  died from AIDS,  the disease  that has ravaged  the homosexual
community.

Some 250,000 marchers  from 350 organizations with 30  floats, bands and
choruses were expected along with  300,000 spectators, Heritage of Price
said.

Police did not give an official estimate.

Honored this  year, ``Our  lesbian and gay  brethren in  the military.''

Grand marshals were  Perry Watkins ``a retired sergeant  first class who
entered the  army in 1968  and was forced out  in 1984 for  being openly
gay,'' and Miriam  Ben-Shalom, an army staff sergeant  who was honorably
discharged in  1978 ``for  truthfully answering questions  from superior
officers about her sexual orientation,'' organizers said.

Perry was ``reinstated  in 1991 after a protracted legal  battle,'' g to
Heritage of Pride.

The line of march, from Central  Park to Christopher Street in Greenwich
Village,  was  trimmed  a  few  blocks at  the  top  to  streamline  the
operation.

Instead of  starting on the West  Side and parading across  Central Park
South, this  year marchers formed on  the side streets off  Fifth Avenue
and stepped off at 52nd Street.

Heritage of Pride pointed out all  other groups parading on Fifth Avenue
assemble on either side of it,  ``including the broguing band of bigots,
the Ancient Order of Hibernians.''

The Irish parade March 17, sponsored by the Hibernians, successfully won
a  court order  banning  the  Irish Lesbian  and  Gay Organization  from
joining in  their annual parade  and over  200 gay and  lesbian marchers
were arrested when they tried to defy the court order.

The  change   in  Sunday's  line   of  march  was  made   to  facilitate
communications and  bring participants closer  together to share  in the
``excitement and  festivities of the stepping-off  point,'' according to
Heritage of  Pride, organizers of  New York  City's Lesbian &  Gay Pride
March, Rally Festival and Dance.

The  celebration was  to  wind up  in  the West  Village  with a  street
festival, dancing in the evening along  the Hudson River and a fireworks
display.

``Outlaw, Outrage,  Outright, Outspoken, Outrageous,  Outstanding,'' was
the official theme of the parade.

``We are reclaiming  our basic civil rights, and affirming  our anger at
our government's disregard for our suffering and dying,'' the organizers
said. ``When we  march, we are celebrating the  uniqueness and diversity
of Lesbian  and Gay  culture, while  also commemorating  our heritage.''