NYC Pride Guide, Week 3: Jazz, history, drag, Walt Whitman and more
You’ve celebrated, you’ve danced, you’ve protested, and now you’re exhausted — and you’re only halfway through Pride Month!
As the most colorful month of the year enters its third week, options to mark the legacy of the Stonewall Riots — a series of violent protests that sparked a new phase in the fight for LGBTQ rights — continue to grow.
This week, the city’s LGBTQ community and their allies will be able to honor those who made it all possible by taking historic walks, chasing rainbows, and joining their voices in protest against an all-out attack on the rights of the LGBTQ community across the U.S. Here’s how you can also take part in the Pride celebrations, 3rd-week edition.
Friday, June 16
Pride Prom, Queens
LGBTQ youth and their friends are in for a treat at the annual Pride Prom in Queens. All students, ages 14 - 20, are invited to this free festive event designed to offer LGBTQ youth a safe space to dance, socialize, laugh, get connected with free resources, and — most importantly — be themselves. Hosted by Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Pride Prom will feature foods and drinks, an Instagram-ready 360-degree photo booth, a live DJ and performances. Free transportation will be provided from the 7 train (111th Street Station). Free, 5 - 8 p.m. New York Hall Of Science 47-01 111th St. Queens
Chasing Rainbows: A Summer Pride Concert, South Bronx
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus continues its ongoing Pride Month extravaganza with a summer concert that celebrates “the power of being your true self.” “Chasing Rainbows: The Continued Chase for Pride” will feature hits by LGBTQ icons including Billy Porter, Janelle Monáe and Jennifer Lopez, as well as Broadway tunes from queer classics including “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “La Cage aux Folles.” Tickets start at $48, 8 p.m. Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx
Saturday, June 17
Brooklyn Youth Pride
Brooklyn’s second annual Youth Pride event will feature carnival games, free food, a craft table, a 360-degree photo booth, an airbrush artist, performances, giveaways and more. DJ Trini will provide the beats. Participants are invited to showcase their artistic talent by decorating their old sneakers with Pride ideas that focus on this year’s theme, “Together We Will.” Free, 12 - 5 p.m. 4th Street (next to JJ Byrne Playground) between 4th and 5th Avenues, Brooklyn
Stand Up NYC Pride: A Nightlife Benefit, Brooklyn
New York City’s nightlife community is coming together for a 12-hour club extravaganza to benefit e the safety and wellness of trans people and drag performers across the country. Stand Up NYC Pride will fundraise for the Southern Equality’s Trans Youth Emergency Project, Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, and the Trans Legal Defense and Education Fund, according to organizers. Produced by drag and interdisciplinary artist Julie J, this 21-and-older event will feature drag performances, DJ sets, raffle prizes and non-stop dancing. It’s time to get sickening, children! Tickets start at $14.33, 4 p.m. - 4 a.m. 3 Dollar Bill, 260 Meserole St, Brooklyn
LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Audre Lorde Walk, Staten Island
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is honoring the legacy of the late queer icon Audre Lorde in the Staten Island neighborhood she lived with her partner Frances Clayton and her two children from 1972 to 1987. Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, feminist, mother, poet warrior,” was an internationally recognized lecturer and a powerful civil rights activist. In 2021, NYC Parks named a walk in her honor. In this free event, participants will have a chance to learn more about the life of the LGBTQ rights pioneer and draw inspiration from the area to write poetry. Free, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road in Silver Lake Park, Staten Island
The Rally, Manhattan
NYC Pride, the nonprofit group behind the city’s official Pride celebrations, is bringing its annual day of protest and activism to the West Village, just a few blocks from where the Stonewall Riots unfolded over 50 years ago. The Rally, an event designed to “advance dialogue about issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community,” feels more important than ever in 2023. Amid an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ bills being introduced in state legislatures nationwide, the event is an important time for LGBTQ people and their allies to renew their commitment to fighting for the community’s freedoms and rights. Hosted by Jordyn Jay, founder of the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective, and trans rights advocate powerhouse and “Legendary” star Milan Garçon, the event will feature performances and speeches by people including actress Kathy Najimy and award-winning author and prominent trans rights advocate Cecilia Gentili. Free, 4:30 p.m., 154 Christopher St., Manhattan
Sunday, June 18
Together! Pride Festival, Queens
The third annual edition of Together! Pride Festival at Culture Lab LIC promises an entire day of fun for the whole family. Hosted by drag wives Miss Patsy InDecline and Ducky Sheaboi alongside their friend Gorgina, the event will feature local vendors, a drag puppet show for kids, and live music. NYC-based drag artist and Miss Stonewall Inn 2019 Cissy Walken Cissy will read from Jason Tharp’s “It’s Okay to Be a Unicorn a children’s book exploring how our differences make us unique in the best of ways. The night will end on a high note, with performances by Freeda Kulo, Lena Horné, NYC drag king Mx. LeStrange, and others. Free, donations will benefit Black Girl Tutors. 2 - 9 p.m. Culture Lab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery, 5-25 46th Ave. Queens
LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Nature For All, Brooklyn
NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers are inviting kids of all ages for a friendly, all-inclusive discovery of the amazing diversity within the animal kingdom. Join fellow nature lovers to celebrate LGBTQ Pride in Brooklyn’s iconic Prospect Park. Free, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Grand Army Plaza Arch in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Monday, June 19
Juneteenth & Pride Run/Walk, South Bronx
Mott Haven Runners of Colorin the South Bronx is celebrating Pride and Juneteenth with a special Monday meet. All levels are welcome, whether you want to run, walk or roll. Participants of this free event will meet at St. Mary’s Park and end at a still-unannounced “dope venue in Mott Haven.” There will be food, drinks, swag, surprises and “lots of surprises.” The event “is going to be a vibe,” organizers say. Free, 6:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Park, E. 146th St. and St. Anns Ave. The Bronx
Bryan Carter presents Jazz at Pride, Manhattan
Founded by celebrated drummer and composer Bryan Carter in 2019, Jazz at Pride was born “out of a desire to create an environment where queer people, especially youth, could see themselves represented,” said Carter, who just took home a Tony Award for best orchestration for his work in “Some Like It Hot.” The openly gay musician will be joined by an impressive list of musical guests, including Tituss Burgess and fellow Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee, who will they share their stories, their art, and the “essential impact of intentional community building.” Tickets start at $20. 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. (also on Tuesday, June 20). Dizzy’s Club, 10 Columbus Circle, Manhattan
Tuesday, June 20
Pride at NYPL: Family Storytime, Preschool Fun!, Manhattan
It’s never too early to celebrate love in all of its forms. Preschool kids are invited to this special book-reading event at the Children’s Center at the NYPL’s largest circulating library. Participants between the ages of 3 and 5 will read the acclaimed picture book “Worm Loves Worm.” The irresistible book by J.J. Austrian with illustrations by Mike Curato tells the story of two worms who fall in love. When they decide to tie the knot, their friends want to know who will wear the dress and who will wear the tux — but the answer doesn’t really matter, because worm loves worm. Free, reservations required. 4 - 4:45 p.m. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, 455 5th Ave. Manhattan
Greenwich Village LGBT History Tour, Manhattan
A New York City nonprofit that focuses on documenting sites that are connected to the city’s rich LGBTQ history and culture is leading a walking tour highlighting historic places associated with queer life and activism in the 20th century around New York City’s famed Washington Square Park. The 90-minute tour will take participants to sites such as the meeting places of the Gay Liberation Front; the Judson Poets Theater, one of the earliest Off-Off-Broadway theater groups; and former homes of AIDS rights warrior and author Larry Kramer and same-sex marriage icon Edie Windsor. $30, $20 for students. Advance registration required. 6 p.m. Group will meet at the north side of the Washington Square Arch at 5th Ave., Manhattan
Wednesday, June 21
Whitman in Love: “Live Oak, with Moss” & Other Poems, Manhattan
The life and legacy of Walt Whitman is being honored by the Merchant’s House Museum. Actor John Kevin Jones will bring to life a collection of 12 poems discovered about 50 years after Whitman’s death that revealed deeply personal reflections on his attraction to and affection for other men. $75, 7 - 8 p.m., other dates available. Merchant’s House Museum, 29 E. 4th Street, Manhattan
MoMA Pride Celebration, Manhattan
This free event will let visitors explore the galleries of the world-famous institution, get creative with fellow art lovers, move to the beats of Brooklyn-based DJ and artist Magnolia Polaris and enjoy a performance of Bright Light Bright Light. Activities include history and advocacy discussions with the (Rainbow flag designer) Gilbert Baker Foundation, astrology readings, temporary tattoo making, portrait illustrations, as well as pop-up gallery talks. Free, limited availability. Reservations required for non-members. 6:30 - 10 p.m. MoMA, 11 W. 53rd St., Manhattan
Thursday, June 22
Pam Ann Rainbow Flight NYC Pride, Manhattan
Buckle up, New York City. Australian-born funny lady Pam Ann is landing the world’s gayest flight in the Big Apple for Pride once again. The self-described “campest air hostess” — an LOL/OMG/WTF-inspiring character created by comic Caroline Reid — has developed a cult following among LGBTQ audiences around the world. In New York City, her June performances have become a much-awaited Pride tradition. Tickets start at $39.47. Shows at 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Triad Theater, 158 West 72nd St., Manhattan
A District Defined: Streets, Sex, and Survival, Manhattan
Celebrate Pride by taking a deeper look at the Meatpacking District’s rich, diverse, and groundbreaking history of LGBTQ nightlife in the ‘80s and ‘90s. “A District Defined: Streets, Sex, and Survival,” features never-before-seen photographs from eight artists who documented the once-neglected neighborhood, just before its extreme transformation into one of the city’s trendiest areas. The show, which will run for three weeks, is produced by NYC-based producer Tim Hayes and the upcoming American LGBTQ+ Museum. Free, Opening night party: 6:30 - 10 p.m. 401 W. 14th St., Manhattan
