Marquee events will celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and reflect on the Pride movement’s roots in protest at Stonewall
NYC Pride | Heritage of Pride, a longtime national leader in LGBTQIA+ Pride organizing and advocacy, announces its official theme for 2025: “Rise Up: Pride in Protest.” As the LGBTQIA+ community faces increasing hostility and legislative attacks, this year’s theme reflects the Pride movement’s origins in protest—and is a powerful call to action for our communities and allies to rally and march in defiant celebration, advocacy, and solidarity. “Rise Up: Pride in Protest” meets the moment before us and honors the legacy of the first Pride March in 1970, which commemorated the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
“This year, more than ever, we acknowledge that Pride can be celebrated in many ways, but at the heart of our mission, we recognize that we must also remain steadfast in protest,” said Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride Co-Chair. “The challenges we face today, particularly in this political climate, require us to stand together in solidarity. We must support one another because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit. Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins.”
“In the face of increasing discrimination, we must continue to push forward,” added NYC Pride Co-Chair Michele Irimia “As New Yorkers, we know: Pride is resistance, Pride is activism and, most importantly, Pride is for everyone. ‘Rise Up: Pride in Protest’ reminds us that the fight for equality is far from over.”
The NYC Pride 2025 calendar includes the annual NYC Pride March, among the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride marches worldwide, and PrideFest, the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in New York, on Sunday, June 29. NYC Pride also offers a diverse array of year-round opportunities to gather through our Pride365 programming, ensuring that our activism and community impact extends beyond June.
NYC Pride will soon announce the full roster of 2025 events and Grand Marshals, who embody the spirit of resilience and activism during Pride Month and beyond. NYC Pride’s 2025 Pride Gives Back grant awards, which support local nonprofits and initiatives serving the LGBTQIA+ community, will also be announced soon.
NYC Pride is made possible through the support of community members and allies. To sustain our mission and continue advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, we invite everyone to donate at nycpride.org/donate. For volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved, visit nycpride.org/support-pride/ways-to-give. Complete this form to learn more about rates and registration for the March, PrideFest, or Youth Pride, or reach out to partnerships@nycpride.org with any related questions.
About NYC Pride | Heritage of Pride:
Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events, rooted in a spirit of activism and advocacy for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. Each year, NYC Pride welcomes over 2.5 million spectators to the NYC Pride March with over 75,000 individuals marching. Additional marquee events include PrideFest, Youth Pride, and more. The organization hosts community and activism events year-round to ensure our LGBTQIA+ advocacy work is not limited to June. Additionally, it hosted World Pride in 2019. For more information, including how to donate and volunteer, visit nycpride.org.
Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community year-round.
