Pride Recap
Writer Kaiya Wood-Rodriguez (center) poses with friends at Pride in NYC.
Fifty-two years after the Stonewall Riots erupted, sparking an uprising in the fight for gay rights, New York City continues to be a hub for unapologetic gay pride. Following weeks of festivities, the month-long celebration of Pride culminated with a final weekend of observation. It was a moment of commemoration and empowerment. With covid-19 more under control this year, people were inclined to celebrate both LGBTQ+ joy while also unofficially acknowledging the end of lockdown.
The West Village for years has been a refuge for people in the LGBTQ+ community, especially the youth. It’s been a place for everyone to love freely and be authentically themselves. The ballroom scene and safe havens like The Door have given people the ability to chase after their dreams and perfect their artistic talents without judgment.
On June 27th I had the privilege of attending Pride and being able to interview a variety of people. A group of friends and I went all over The Village. From the Pier to West 14th to Central Park, everywhere we went there was something different to do. Stretching from style to sexual orientation no two people were alike and everyone had a special something that made them unique. My friends and I were greeted everywhere we went. Bars were filled with dancing bodies and the streets were crowded with warm, beautiful souls coming together.
Deaven, a recent college graduate who asked not to share his full name said, “Pride has a different vibe. The love and energy feels so welcoming. I have always gone to Pride and therefore this year was not going to be any different.” His response was refreshing to hear after 15 months of lockdowns and stringent health guidelines that kept many in fear of large gatherings. “I’m vaccinated. You’re vaccinated. There’s nothing to fear,” he added.
This year has been about celebrating the things we have rather than dwelling on the things we don't. Sabrina*, a newly out 28-year-old said, “This is my first Pride day ever. I came out not too long ago, but to friends...not family as of yet.” She was visibly anxious while talking to me. “Being gay in fucking New York is about relieving all your stress and coming to be around genuine-ass people. There's no hiding or shame involved,” she said ironically. She explained that the city has allowed her to feel more comfortable within herself and her sexual orientation, despite not being ready to come out to her family yet.
I spoke to dozens of other people who had a similar experience to hers — feeling they have no support from family. This is exactly why Pride month is so crucial; it serves to challenge stigmas and ignorant ideologies. It allows for us to be able to learn from one another.
The pandemic has taken away over half a million lives in the United States, and has left us with a fear of the unknown. The one thing that does still remain is the human ability to love and uplift — Pride is the perfect embodiment of that. Regardless of what the world looks like today, everyone has come together for a bigger purpose: to remind one another that we as a community are still fighting to be equal in a world where sexual orientation continues to be taboo in many places.
I was able to meet individuals who have recently come out and spoken their truth regardless of those who may disapprove. Pride was created not only to shed light on the activism, history and accomplishments of the LGBTQIA society, it was also created to commemorate the fight that people before us endured to ensure that our community has a voice in any and every space. Even though life may look completely different from what we remember, it doesn’t have to mean we don't still celebrate life and love.
* indicates name’s been changed