Tina Ruiz, 17, of Castle Hill in the Bronx and Esti Ocegueda, 18, of Corona, Queens met at a library three years ago and have been dating ever since. Ruiz says the pier is "very calm, very serene. I come here to get away. A lot of gay people here are out like there’s no tomorrow ... you could be hiding who you are at home but you can be yourself here. It’s like this is our territory." Ocegueda adds, "Out here you don’t get gay bashed."
Photo by By Alice Proujansky
