I had the amazing opportunity to attend New York City Pride this year. My friend flew in for the weekend, and we took the train to New York for the day. We packed our fanny packs, and each brought a portable charger, some cash, and our phones. We took the first train out from the local train station and took the last train back. It was a wild day filled with so much excitement, new people and most importantly acceptance!
It was exactly what I would have expected of Pride. Everywhere I looked there were rainbows, rainbows, and oh yeah, more rainbows! It was truly beautiful to see. Everywhere I looked there were identity flags hanging from buildings, printed on shirts, and being handed out along the parade route. There were so so so many floats! Each float or group in the parade had many people helping caring signs, pass out things, or perform. Each group had a "WOW" factor, some had famous performers, others had Stonewall veterans, and most even had their very own DJs. Each float had their own music going. It was a real party as each of them went by.
I did not think that I would see more than five famous people! As the floats went by I saw so many famous people! The one that really surprised me was Sasha Velour from RuPaul's Drag Race, and also I got to see the one and only Miss J Alexander from America's Next Top Model. It makes sense that they were there, but it really showed how much attending Pride means to so many people. During the parade, we were standing with hundreds of complete strangers, as you do at parades.
I think the part of the day that really surprised me was when the woman next to us took off her shirt.
There were people in the parade that were topless and that was expected to a certain extent, but this woman was instantly inspired and followed suit. At first, I was really surprised and wasn't sure how to react, but as time went on I realized that I actually didn't care or mind. What harm was she causing? She was just living her best life. Being from a smaller town I have never seen so many people in one close spot. I had never been surrounded by so many complete strangers, but never felt so connected to them at the same time. As the parade went on we started to get very comfortable with everyone walking by. We were all there for the same reasons, to show support and love, and you could feel it in the crowd!
The most spectacular part of the entire day was simply being in New York City. Being from a place where the most exciting thing is a street fair it was a total 180 degrees flip from anything I had ever experienced. This trip to New York was a once in a lifetime, and I am so very grateful for everything that I experienced while I was there. The only regret that I had left New York was that I did not spend the night! I cannot wait to see what New York Pride will bring to me in 2019.
