Walking up to the starting point of the New York City Pride March, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan was playing at full blast. That’s how I knew I was in the right place. 2025 has been a heavy year for so many people for so many reasons, but for a few hours on a hot Sunday in June, queer people and allies lined the streets, and every single one of them had a smile on their faces, despite the anxiety of this political moment.
NYC Pride Co-Chair Kazz Alexander probably summed it up best when he said, “I am Black, I am gay, and my joy is my liberation. This is my form of protest, just to be clear. And some of us live our lives every day in protest. It’s not something I can take off.”
Politics were front and center, literally and figuratively. The march kicked off with elected officials waving to the crowd. New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s team was up first. Mayor Eric Adams followed. We also saw New York Attorney General Letitia James marching with presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who I spotted waving a trans pride flag.
At the press conference ahead of the march, Grand Marshal Karine Jean-Pierre took to the podium to address reporters, a familiar sight for anyone who watched or covered a Biden Administration press briefing. NYC Pride chose Jean-Pierre for a host of reasons, including her trailblazing role as the first Black and first openly queer White House press secretary. “Across the country, LGBTQ rights are under attack, especially for our trans siblings,” she said. “‘Rise Up’ is not just a theme, it’s a call to action. We rise up to protest hate and to protect one another.”
That was a sentiment seen in the actions of the marchers, as well as the signs from marchers and spectators alike. Multiple signs called for people to “protect the dolls.” There were also several thinly veiled references to the current occupant of the White House, including signs that read, “No kings,” which has become a rallying cry from critics who have called the current administration an oligarchy. In a moment of levity, one NYC Pride group leader held up a sign that read, “NO KINGS” with the caveat of, “EXCEPTIONS: DRAG & SHORT.”
Marchers also stood up for queer and trans youth, in response to efforts to restrict gender-affirming care and the teams on which trans athletes can play. PFLAG had a sizable presence. But one of the most eye-catching signs came from a spectator who held hers up in solidarity. It read, “If your parents aren’t accepting of your identity I’m your mom now. Drink some water, take your meds, make sure you eat. I love you!!” It was a touching message that I’m sure many people along the route that day needed to hear. I needed to hear it, too, because I’m a 35-year-old reporter who’s been doing this for more than a decade, and neglected to eat or drink anything. Luckily, a very nice man walked by afterward, selling cold water for $2.
Just days before the march, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group of parents in Maryland, who want to be able to opt their children out of LGBTQ curriculum in public schools. The case will go back to a lower court for review, but it’s expected the parents will prevail in their push to be able to exclude their children from these lessons in the name of religious freedom.
The high court ruled along ideological lines, with the conservatives outnumbering the liberals. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that public schools give students the opportunity to practice living in a multicultural society. She went on to say, “That experience is critical to our Nation’s civic vitality. Yet it will become a mere memory if children must be insulated from exposure to ideas and concepts that may conflict with their parents’ religious beliefs.”
In New York, there was a response to this ruling. It wasn’t angry, it wasn’t over the top. It was a simple sign that said, “QUEER stories BELONG in the classroom.”
Another issue that loomed over the day was the push from the political right to overturn the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage on a federal level. I saw one couple walking with a sign with the message, “42 years in love, still marching for justice.” There was another couple with a similar story, who had been together for 25 years.
Queer migrants also made their voices heard, in response to stepped-up immigration actions carried out by ICE this year. They called for a stop to deportations and family separations.
So far, I’ve focused a lot on the fight for queer rights, because it’s an important part of this story. But I don’t want to lose sight of the happiness and excitement of the day.
The most excited person I saw was DJ Lina Bradford, another one of the grand marshals. Before Pride, we discussed how honored she was to be chosen. When she was called up to speak at the pre-march press conference, she became emotional listening to the people who went before her, but her sense of humor was still intact. “This is the whole reason why we have these grand marshals, just sitting there, getting me all teary down my high cheekbones.”
Along the route, she sat in the back of a blue sports car, waving as she passed people. I asked her whether being a grand marshal was everything she wanted it to be. “And so much more,” she responded with a smile.
The NYC Pride March was also a place for people to find their community, especially for people who might feel marginalized. There was a contingent of asexual marchers, proudly waving the black, white, gray and purple flag. Of course, there was one cheeky participant, holding a sign that read, “My sexuality is NOPE.”
I also saw a group of furries, dressed in animal ears and paw-gloves. One woman’s face lit up from behind the barrier and yelled, “Yeah, furries! We’re one of you!” I could tell the representation meant a lot to her.
It was a bright, happy and colorful day in Manhattan. Sore legs, confetti stuck to me, and $6 to ride the PATH to and from were a small price to pay to experience New York City Pride.
