Team Newsletter

Celebrating Pride Month

Honoring Heritage, History, and Community in New York City
This month’s heritage newsletter, curated by the DEI Committee and Employee Resource Groups, spotlights the rich history, heritage, and lasting contributions celebrated during Pride Month (June 1 - June 30). Inside, you’ll find featured articles exploring the month’s significance, NYC-specific facts, highlights of relevant nonprofits, and actionable ways for you to support and get involved with relevant causes!

From Protest to Global Movement

Every June, Pride Month is celebrated worldwide as a tribute to LGBTQIA+ culture, rights, and visibility - with New York City at its historic and symbolic heart. The tradition began in 1970, when the first NYC Pride March, known as Christopher Street Liberation Day, commemorated the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. This pivotal event ignited the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement and inspired the first Pride marches in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The word “pride” soon became a rallying cry for self-worth and empowerment, symbolizing the strength and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. As activist L. Craig Schoonmaker noted, “But anyone can have pride in themselves, and that would make them happier as people, and produce the kind of change we want to see.” Today, NYC’s Pride March remains one of the world’s largest, drawing up to 2.5 million attendees in recent years and reaching a record 5 million during WorldPride in 2019.

This powerful legacy has transformed Pride into a truly global phenomenon, with millions gathering each year at parades and festivals in cities like São Paulo, Madrid, Toronto, and Paris. Altogether, Pride events now attract tens of millions of participants worldwide, making Pride Month both a joyful celebration and a powerful movement for equality and inclusion across the globe.

Nomad on Pride

"When I arrived in New York City on June 3, 2011, I was embarking on a thrilling new chapter of my life—and I couldn't have picked a more momentous time. Just three weeks later, on June 24, 2011, New York's Marriage Equality Act was signed into law. That year's Pride March transformed into a historic celebration, a living testament to progress in real time. Back home in Minnesota, same-sex marriage wouldn't be legal for another two years, and it took until 2015 for the Supreme Court to extend that freedom to all 50 states.

For me, Pride Month is both a joyful celebration of every person's right to live authentically and a moment to honor the trailblazers who fought tirelessly to protect our freedom of choice. It's a reminder that progress often happens one bold step at a time—and that every voice, every story, and every march matters."

- Lu Enstad
Did you know?

The Enduring Influence of Trans Women and Drag Queens of Color

Pride Month traces its roots to the Stonewall Riots, a watershed moment that began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. Unlike previous raids, this time the patrons - many of whom were trans women and drag queens of color - refused to back down, igniting days of protest and resistance that galvanized the LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

Pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and self-identified drag queen, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latina trans woman, stood at the forefront, organizing protests and rallying the community in defiant solidarity.

Marsha P. Johnson & Silvia Rivera at Pride March '73, NYC  

The influence of trans women and drag queens of color extends far beyond the Stonewall Riots; they have been at the heart of both the LGBTQIA+ rights movement and the evolution of queer art and culture. Leaders like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), providing shelter and advocacy for homeless LGBTQIA+ youth and fighting for trans inclusion in the broader gay rights movement.

In the arts, Black and Latinx trans women and drag performers also pioneered ballroom culture, voguing, and the "house" system, as seen in the influential documentary Paris Is Burning. The influence of ballroom culture has reverberated far beyond queer spaces, leaving an indelible mark on mainstream music, dance, and fashion. Madonna's 1990 hit "Vogue" famously drew inspiration from the ballroom scene, bringing voguing and its aesthetics to a global audience and sparking conversations about cultural ownership and recognition.

Read More: From Underground Subculture to Global Phenomenon: An Oral History of Ballroom Within Mainstream Culture

NYC's Pride Month: What to Check Out

New York City's Pride Month is not only a commemoration of history but also a celebration of progress and community. The NYC Pride March draws millions of participants and spectators each June. The route winds through Manhattan, passing the historic Stonewall National Monument, and culminates in a vibrant display of unity and advocacy.

NYC Pride March 2025 🌈
Starts at 12pm on Sunday, June 29th 🏳️‍🌈
Read more: Time Out
NYC Pride 2025's theme: "Rise up: Pride in Protest."

NYC Pride's theme is a more defiant stance compared to recent years. "As the LGBTQIA+ community faces increasing hostility and legislative attacks, this year's theme is a reflection of the Pride movement's origins in protest—and is a powerful call to action for our communities and allies to rally and march in defiant celebration, advocacy and solidarity," their website reads."This year, more than ever, we acknowledge that Pride can be celebrated in many ways, but at the heart of our mission, we recognize that we must also remain steadfast in protest," said Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride's Co-Chair. "The challenges we face today, particularly in this political climate, require us to stand together in solidarity. We must support one another, because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit. Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins."

Spotlight on Nonprofits: Supporting and Getting Involved

Pride Month is also a time to give back. Many nonprofits in New York City work year-round to support LGBTQIA+ individuals across all ages, backgrounds, and needs.

How to Get Involved:

Donate

Financial contributions help sustain vital programs and services.

Volunteer

Join community projects, mentor youth, or assist at events.

Advocate

Raise awareness, participate in marches, and support inclusive policies.

Attend Events

Support fundraisers, cultural events, and educational workshops

Compiled by Secret NYC, below are just a few making a difference:

New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center empowers people to lead healthy, successful lives. The Center celebrates diversity and advocates for justice while upholding a welcoming environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are. They offer the LGBTQ+ communities advocacy, health and wellness programs, arts, entertainment, and cultural events, and recovery, parenthood, and family support services. Volunteer, attend events, or donate to support their programs.

The Ali Forney Center was founded in 2002 in memory of Ali Forney, a homeless gender-nonconforming youth who was forced to live on the streets, where they were tragically murdered. Committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ+ young people, The Ali Forney Center's mission is to protect them from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently. Donate, volunteer, or mentor.

Callen-Lorde is the global leader in LGBTQ health care. They have been transforming lives in LGBTQ+ communities since the days of Stonewall through excellent comprehensive care which they offer free of judgment and regardless of ability to pay. In addition, they continue to research, advocate, and educate to drive positive change around the world. Support through donations or volunteering.

This nonprofit organization makes aging better for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. They speak out for the issues that matter, teach, connect - generations, each other, and allies - and celebrate. They’ve created a long-term HIV survivor driven group, addressing housing issues for LGBTQ+ elders, connecting LGBTQ+ older people who want to talk to friendly responders, and more. Volunteer or donate to help seniors thrive.

The Audre Lorde Project is a Brooklyn-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender nonconforming People of Color center for community organizing. Through mobilization, education, and capacity-building, they work for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice. Support through donations or community engagement.

Pride's Ongoing Legacy

Pride Month is a celebration of identity, resilience, and progress—but it's also a reminder of the work still to be done. As NYC's Pride theme urges, let's reflect on the past, empower each other, and unite for a future where everyone can live authentically and safely.

This June, whether you march, volunteer, donate, or simply learn more, you're part of a vibrant tradition that honors the past and shapes a more inclusive tomorrow.

Happy Pride, Nomad! 🌈