After two years of rallying the LGBTQIA+ online due to the covid-19 pandemic, the NYC Pride Rally is BACK in person! The first Rally occurred one month after the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, when 500 people gathered for a “Gay Power” demonstration in Washington Square Park and followed by a candlelight vigil in Sheridan Square. NYC Pride has continued this proud tradition by hosting the event in various locations throughout the city.

The Rally will take place on Friday, June 24th from 4pm to 7pm EDT with hosts Raquel Willis and Sage Dolan-Sandrino. Among this year’s speakers are Chase Strangio, Dominique Morgan, and Schuyler Bailar who were recently announced as grand marshals at this year’s NYC Pride March.

Additional speakers include B. Hawk Snipes, Edafe Okoporo, Linda La, Shawnee Kish, Angy Rivera, and The Okra Project, and the National LGBTQ+ Task Force. The Task Force is driving Queer the Vote to educate and mobilize LGBTQ+ rights supporters during key election cycles and legislative assaults on the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the historic gains the community has made, victories have come under threat as the United States has witnessed a pronounced acceleration of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, as well as aggressive voter suppression fueled chiefly by misinformation. In 2022, Queer the Vote will be on the frontlines as a dynamic vehicle for power building.

NYC Pride is proud to announce that The Rally will take place at The Battery at State Street and Battery Place, a larger venue than in years past that can accommodate more attendees, while also maintaining social distancing and making COVID-19 precautions as a top priority. After two successful years of producing virtual rallies, NYC Pride will host this event in a hybrid format to ensure as many people as possible have access to this important event.