New Queens Pride Is Back On June 1

New York’s second oldest and second largest Pride celebration returns for its 33rd year this June. Established in 1993, New Queens Pride in Jackson Heights is a family-friendly celebration encouraging LGBTQ+ tolerance and visibility.

“New Queens Pride is where our community’s heart beats loudest,” says Dr. David Kilmnick, president of the New York LGBT Network, which produces the festival. Plus, he says, “It’s the most diverse Pride parade anywhere.” Queens is not only one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the world, but it also boasts the largest trans population in the Western Hemisphere, and the borough’s diverse community is proudly on display at New Queens Pride. It was founded in response to both the brutal murder of gay Queens resident Julio Rivera and homophobic opposition to including LGBTQ+ topics in school curriculums. In the face of tragic origins, the celebration remains a fierce act of defiance and solidarity. 

“It kicks off Pride Month for the entire region and sets the tone: we are here, we are united, and we will not be erased,” Kilmnick tells GO. “In a time when our rights and identities are under attack, New Queens Pride is a celebration, a protest, and a powerful declaration that we’re not going anywhere.”

New Queens Pride is an all-day affair, with something for every member of the family. The parade itself starts at noon, marching down 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. The procession leads directly into the Multicultural Festival, a celebration that runs from 12–6 pm with local vendors and live music. According to Kilmnick, first-time attendees can expect “a high-energy day filled with joy, culture, and unapologetic activism.”