Daphne Chandler at NYC Pride 2026, Photo Courtesy of Maddie Cohen
Before last week, I’d never been to a Pride celebration. I’ve attended ‘Gay Son or Thought Daughter’ parties, but hadn’t ever walked in a parade full of my people. Growing up there wasn’t a lot of queer representation in my life, so honestly I just didn’t know things like that existed until I was a teenager and thoroughly awkward. Now I live in the big city and have lots of gay friends. What else would we be doing in June?
2026 marked the 56th year of the annual June 28th Pride celebration and the city showed up for us – I’ve never seen so many people existing together harmoniously. New York is the Olympics of Pride month and it did not disappoint.
Pride Parade NYC 2026, Photo Courtesy of Maddie Cohen
I’m living here for the summer just a few blocks away from Washington Square Park, so naturally I offered to host for the day. With nearly a dozen people crowded into my fifth floor walkup, I expected to be overwhelmed, but all I felt was content. I found my community when I started college at Emerson, and despite being far and wide now, we all came together for a day to be part of something bigger.
The original Christopher St. march has expanded over the last 50 years to cover the city, both literally and demonstratively. Every business has a rainbow collection and the girls, gays, and they’s alike can finally feel comfortable wearing next to nothing on the streets. My best friend refused to leave until she saw someone in “nothing but nipple covers and a tutu” – which we did and we cheered.
Pride Parade Attendees 2026, Photo Courtesy of Maddie Cohen
The outfits alone were enough to excite me. Pride is about showing your true colors, and fashion is a deep passion of mine. We went shopping on Orchard Street the week before to find the perfect vintage lingerie with pink lace. I painted my nails and pulled a makeup look from Pinterest. Give art students an event and we’re going to go all out. Surrounded by queers of all kinds felt like being on another planet but coming home at the same time.
The best thing about Pride is that you finally don’t feel alone. There is no Pride parade in my hometown and I was too nervous to join my high school’s GSA club. Emerson was like being thrown into a giant queer swimming pool; suddenly everyone was gay and if you weren’t you were the outlier. New York City Pride felt like the queer ocean – and I’m a Pisces. Seeing friends for the first time in six months and coming together in a celebration of who we are at our core creates an unmatched feeling of community.
The five hours we spent sitting in Washington Square Park passed in a blur of sparkles, games of rating the outrageous outfits, and endless photo shoots. Our pocket of shade was next to a Hare Krishna band, the absurdity of tambourines and drums made us giggle. Things like this could only happen in New York, and yes of course we’re all dancing to it in the middle of the park.
Friends and Family at Pride 2026, Photo Courtesy of Maddie Cohen
At one point, a friend brought her brother’s baby to sit in our circle. My friends and I blew bubbles and played patty cake, enthralled by the new life. We, the queer community, created a space so safe that a total stranger trusted us to watch their child. Love is not just for us, it expands and balloons out over the whole city for one day.
It’s a bittersweet beauty for me, because while June 28th is magical and memorable, the next day it’s all the same. My friends are gone and the streets are reopened. While Pride isn’t something that only exists in June sometimes it feels that way. The vibrancy we see in those four weeks often doesn’t bleed into the other 48 – leaving us a little lonely. That’s why Pride was so important to me. I wanted to feel like the city was just ours for the day.
NYC Pride Attendees 2026, Photo Courtesy of Maddie Cohen