Pride month is fast approaching, and for LGBTQ+ people living in or near New York City, there’s a lot to look forward to. From the annual pride march to a wide variety of Queer-focused events, NYC Pride is gearing up to be another massive celebration of inclusivity.
The March will begin at noon on June 26 and head from 26th Street & 5th Avenue to 23rd Street & 7th Avenue. Anyone attending can see a huge display representing the whole community in classic rainbow style. But of course, the March isn’t everything. So what else can you expect to see at this year’s NYC pride?
Above and Beyond
2019 was the fiftieth anniversary of New York Pride, and, for a city that love to celebrate pride, it was the perfect opportunity to put on a real party. The UTOPIA event, headlined by Kygo, was a concert held at the Javits center, complete with a full orchestra and performances from artists like Danny Verde, Kiiara, and Cirque du Soleil. The event was a great success, and no doubt, many were hoping for something similar in 2020. But then the pandemic happened.
New York Pride in 2020 was canceled, and although Pride 2021 did go ahead, it was still under COVID-19 health and safety restrictions, so hosting anything of the scale of UTOPIA would’ve been impossible.
But now it’s 2022, and, with the pandemic under much better control, we’re all ready for another big event. This year Kygo will be back, but headlining, will be Spencer Brown and the truly outstanding trance artists of Above and Beyond. This will mark the first time Above, and Beyond have performed during New York Pride, and it will no doubt be a spectacular night.
The party will start at 10 pm, and attendees can expect to dance into the next morning. It’ll be taking place on June 24, so you’ll have a full day to rest before the pride parade on the 26th.
The History of New York Pride
If you know anything about the history of pride and LGBTQ+ rights in the US, you’ve almost certainly heard the name Stonewall. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The raid led to a riot, followed by a series of protests, and is considered a significant turning point in the movement for LBGTQ+ activism. If you’ve ever wondered why most pride parades take place in June, it’s because of the Stonewall riots and the subsequent protests.
One year later, in 1970, the first-ever NYC pride march was held, and ever since, it’s been an annual event. New York Pride is now one of the biggest marches in the world, and, to this day, the route still passes by the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street. It’s been over fifty years since the Stonewall riots, and in that time, the meaning of NYC pride has expanded. As nycpride.org put it:
Over the years, its purpose has broadened to include recognition of the fight against AIDS and to remember those we have lost to illness, violence and neglect.
Are You Ready?
Pride is only a few months away, so it’s time to start booking those flights and hotel tickets if you haven’t already. But, of course, you might not be traveling so far afield. From the biggest parade to the smallest flag, there are hundreds of places to gather and ways to celebrate pride. After all, this festival is all about inclusivity. So whether you’re going to New York, San Diego, or just a local LGBTQ+ event, we wish you all a happy pride!
