NYC Pride unveils 2024 theme as it celebrates 40th anniversary of Heritage of Pride
Celebrating its 40th year, Heritage of Pride|NYC Pride announces our official theme for 2024, “Reflect. Empower. Unite.” as it kicks off this year’s programming.
The theme was selected to highlight the importance of the NYC Pride March as the intersection for Queer liberation and joy. Drawing upon the activist history that ignited the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights, the theme encourages individuals, advocates, community leaders and allies to reflect on the challenges they have overcome together and empowers them to take action in shaping our collective future. At a time of division in our country and the world, this year’s theme calls for unity within and throughout the LGBTQIA+ community and is a call to action for ALL allies, especially those in government and the private sector, to demonstrate their alliance with the community-at-large at this critical time in our nation’s history.
This year also marks the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and comes at a time when the LGBTQIA+ community finds itself under increasing attack. From the introduction of hundreds of anti-gay, anti-Trans bills, to the weaponizing of Drag Story Hour, to heartbreaking stories of bullying and violence against young, Trans youth, the gains of the movement are in peril of being eroded or erased in their entirety. “The NYC Pride March is how we combat all the negativity; this is the celebration that brings people from every borough in the city and all parts of the world together, in joy, to share the accomplishments, talents and resilience of our community” said NYC Pride Executive Director Sandra Pérez. “The March is where we demonstrate the strength that comes with inclusion, diversity and acceptance,” Pérez continued.
Said Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride Co-Chair, “this year’s theme is an imperative and a call to action. While we reflect on past triumphs and challenges, we must also empower our community to continue to ignite change and unite against the forces that do not want us to exist. Unity at this time is critical to our survival. Our theme calls us all to action.”
Said Sue Doster, NYC Pride Co-chair: “Our theme will be woven through all of our events, in June and for the rest of 2024. From empowering young people at Youth Pride to uniting in all our diversity and power at the March to celebrating our Queer joy at Pridefest, there will be so many opportunities to gather in the ways that NYC Pride has done for decades, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization that started it all.”
The NYC Pride 2024 calendar will feature legacy events including Youth Pride on Saturday, June 29 as well as the annual NYC Pride March & Broadcast and PrideFest, the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in the city, on Sunday, June 30. More information about NYC Pride events can be found at nycpride.org/events. More information about NYC Pride, including how to volunteer, can be found at nycpride.org.
