Bright Moments at NYC Pride Parade

The celebration of Pride in New York City is a blend of joy and reflection.

“Buy Tickets to Oh, Mary Now!” signs stand next to signs urging “Love Us While We Are Still Alive.” The parade is a space where Bowen Yang can joke about the “subtlety” of his bedazzled rainbow Grand Marshal sash. He bursts into tears upon seeing signs made by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in his honor.

NYC Pride insists that time is fluid. The past does not slip neatly out of view but keeps company with the present. Qween Jean, a recent Tony Award winner, invoked Cecilia Gentili and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Gay parents pushed strollers. A contingent from Judson Memorial Church bore portraits of “Saint Stephen Sondheim,” “Saint Audre Lorde,” “Saint Alan Turing,” and others.

Two people in face paint and matching rainbow sequin bikinis held hands and chanted, “Mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living!” This year marks a decade since the Pulse nightclub massacre and the formation of activist group Gays Against Guns. This group held its first public protest at NYC Pride in 2016. Members of Gays Against Guns were honored as Grand Marshals this year. They marched

This year’s Pride saw the usual mix of celebration and activism. The Pulse shooting anniversary was noted with somberness. Many people at the parade wore orange in honor of lives lost and to express their support for gun control.

As the march neared its end, the mood shifted. The passion of the marchers remained strong. Music blared from speakers on trucks. Many revelers stopped by food trucks and booths offering freebies. Organizers had set up water stations and rest areas throughout the route. The crowd was huge.

Progress: more transgender and non-binary representation. This year’s Pride included the most diverse lineup of Grand Marshals ever. This year’s Pride included dozens of groups and dozens of floats. It stretched 32 blocks. It took 5 hours to pass by any given point.

The day also marked serious moments. One of the Grand Marshals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted efforts to combat rising HIV rates in some queer communities. The HHS has a new campaign, “Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.,” aimed at lowering infections by 75% within 5 years.

More than half an hour after the procession ended, the sounds of cheering and music faded away. Many stayed to watch the fireworks, which were scheduled to start at 10 p.m. Crowds began to disperse after the final boom. Some went home. Others headed to after-parties or bars. The city returned to its usual rhythm.

The Pride events continued into the following week. There were panels, workshops, and parties. On Sunday, the closing ceremony featured performances by 3 local bands. The city’s official Pride celebrations ended at 7 p.m., with a moment of silence for those lost to HIV/AIDS and gun violence.