Pulse nightclub owner to lead NYC Pride March

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The owner of the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando will be an honored guest of the NYC Pride organization for its Pride Parade this weekend.

Owner Barbar Poma and Neema Bahrami, the entertainment manager, will start at the NYC LGBT Pride Rally on Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at Hudson River Park's Pier 26.  The pair is expected to address the crowd.

The event will begin with the reading of the Orlando victims' names.  All attendees will be given an orange bandana. The color orange was  chosen for its connection to both Orlando and the movement to end gun violence.

Poma and Bahrami will also ride on the lead float during Sunday's Pride March that starts at 36th and 5th Ave. at noon.  After the march, the pair will be speaking at the PrideFest Street Festival on Hudson Street.

NYC Pride says that Delta Airlines donated roundtrip airfare for the pair to appear at this weekend's events.

NYC Pride plans to honor and memorialize the 49 victims of the June 12 Pulse Nightclub attack during several of the weekend’s events.