Hearst, Disney, iHeart and More: LGBTQ+ Support and Resilience Shine at NYC Pride
After its triumphant return last year, New York City Pride was back in full swing Sunday with an estimated two million attendees and tens of thousands of marchers at the six-hour celebration that finished at the historic Stonewall Inn. While company floats were decked out in rainbow decor and seemed like mini-parties with DJs, celebrity ambassadors and staffers, there were clear messages and calls to action to defend and protect LGBTQ+ rights as the community struggles on an ongoing basis to maintain their rights across the country.
This year’s parade featured a less corporate and more community-based presence with floats from non-profits like The Trevor Project, The LGBT Center of New York, the Human Rights Campaign and The Okra Project, and unions like SAG-AFTRA and I.A.T.S.E.. Still, dozens of major brands and companies showed their dedication and support for the queer community, including Chase, Playbill, Garnier, Mastercard, the NFL, the NBA and MediaVillage member companies Hearst, Disney and iHeart.
Among the most impressive displays were a set of six side-by-side rainbows made up of hundreds of balloons (pictured above), led down the parade by a group of NYC Pride volunteers, as well as a group of marchers from entertainment group Mexico Una Sola Voz wearing stunning costumes inspired by ancient Aztec cultural garb on a float modeled after ruins.
Many of the non-profits and advocacy groups went beyond the usual freebie handouts of rainbow-themed accessories and branded merch and also handed out pamphlets and brochures to provide resources for any attendees who may be in need of them. Organizations like PFLAG provide support and education for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families while the Okra Project provides mutual aid support to Black trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people.
Celebrity appearances included Star Trek: Picard star Michelle Hurd marching with SAG-AFTRA, Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp with The Girl Scouts of America, IT and IT: Chapter Two star Nic Hamilton with The Trevor Project, and Broadway’s Frankie Grande (Titanique), Antwayn Hopper (A Strange Loop), Anthony Lee Medina (Hamilton) and Kimber Elayne Sprawl (Wicked) on the Playbill float; along with RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8 runner-up Kim Chi with Garnier, and season 12 runner-up Gigi Goode and season 13 winner Symone with Estee Lauder.
While during last year’s Pride celebration the Supreme Court’s looming decision over same-sex marriage was on everyone’s mind, this year New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a "Safe Haven" bill that keeps medical information private for transgender youth, updates inclusive language on state documentation, and ensures that individuals have the right to receive rehabilitation regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
As we enjoyed the festivities, music and displays of joy and liberation, the fact that there is still a very long way to go to secure the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community was never far from mind. But this is glorious celebration was certainly a step in the right direction.
Photos courtesy of Juan Ayala.
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Juan Ayala
Juan Ayala is a Brooklyn-based writer, podcaster and columnist at MediaVillage. He covers programming aimed toward diverse, multicultural and LGBTQ+ audiences under his Multicultural TV column. His love for TV and film ranges from workplace comedi…
