For the First Time Ever, You Can Attend This Year’s NYC Pride Celebration Virtually From Anywhere in the World

updated Jun 12, 2020
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a rainbow pride flag waving with lower manhattan in the background
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With mass gatherings and events still largely on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate Pride Month. And if you’ve always wanted to go to New York City for their legendary Pride celebrations, you’re in luck, because for the first time ever, the annual LGBTQIA+ celebration will be held virtually—so you can celebrate from any location in the world.

NYC Pride announced plans for several events that are free to all virtual attendees. First up, there’s a virtual Pride rally, which will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube on Friday, June 26, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT. Hosted by trans journalist Ashlee Marie Preston and trans actor Brian Michael Smith, this rally will focus on police brutality and discrimination and the hosts will be joined by community activists, organizers, politicians, and other guests.

There’s also the NYC Special Pride Broadcast Event, which serves as a virtual substitute to the annual Pride March. Broadcasting on ABC on Sunday, June 28 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm EDT, this event will celebrate the frontline workers and honor a few leading members of the LGBTQIA+ community as Grand Marshals, including “Schitt’s Creek” showrunner Dan Levy; Peng Yanzi, the director of LGBT Rights Advocacy China; transgender activist Victoria Cruz; and the Ali Forney Center, an organization that provides safe housing options and resources for LGBTQIA+ youths. There will also be special appearances and performances by Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Luisa Sonza, among others.

This year’s Pride Month is extra special, because 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March, which was held in New York City in 1970. And even though the colorful celebrations might look a little different than years past, they’re no less special. “While we are saddened to not be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NYC Pride March in person, we are thrilled to still be able to recognize our Grand Marshals,” March director Brian J. Heck told ABC7NY. “These inspiring pillars of the LGBTQIA+ community are leading the way as we begin the journey of the next 50 years of Pride.”

Heck added that “this year we are also proud to honor all of the front-line workers who put their health at risk to unconditionally serve our LGBTQIA+ community with love and compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic. These heroes prove that the future is a place where we embrace the full rainbow of our community.”

New York isn’t the only city celebrating Pride virtually this year. Global Pride 2020 will be the first ever worldwide LGBTQIA+ event, live-streaming for 24 hours on June 27. Visit The New York Times for a comprehensive list of the Pride events from cities around the world happening all month long.