New Queens Pride Parade Fills Jackson Heights With Celebration, Visibility and Community

By Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment

JACKSON HEIGHTS, N.Y. — Rainbow flags filled the streets of Jackson Heights on Sunday as thousands gathered for the New Queens Pride Parade, one of New York City’s longest-running Pride celebrations and a tradition rooted in visibility, community and advocacy.

Marchers, performers, elected officials, healthcare organizations, activists and neighborhood residents moved along the parade route as spectators lined the streets, creating a celebration that reflected the diversity of Queens itself.

The parade traces its roots back to 1993, following the murder of Julio Rivera and backlash against the Children of the Rainbow curriculum, which promoted understanding and acceptance of New York City’s diverse communities. More than three decades later, Queens Pride remains both a celebration and a public statement about visibility and inclusion.

The 2026 parade brought together a wide range of participants. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani joined local and state officials including Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblywoman Larinda C. Hooks, Attorney General Letitia James, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

Community organizations were equally visible throughout the route. The NY LGBT Network marched with large banners promoting its “Thriving Together” message, while groups including Girl Scouts of Queens, NYC Health + Hospitals, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and HIV Stops With Me connected Pride celebrations with public health, education and community support.

Music and performance remained at the center of the day. The Queer Big Apple Corps marching band brought brass and percussion to the streets, while Fogo Azul NYC’s drumline added a powerful rhythm that echoed through the neighborhood. Gotham Cheer Team and Cheer New York drew large reactions from spectators with elevated stunts, basket tosses and performances beneath Progress Pride flags.

Drag artists, pageant participants, dancers and cultural performers added even more color to the parade, reflecting the many communities that call Queens home.

Alongside the celebration, advocacy remained a visible part of the event. Marchers carried signs supporting gender-affirming healthcare, immigrant rights, HIV awareness and other social justice causes. Banners calling for migrant protections, healthcare access and community safety shared the same streets as Pride flags, music and cheering crowds.

Throughout the afternoon, families watched from behind barricades, children waved flags and neighbors gathered outside businesses along the route. Even as weather shifted from bright sunshine to passing rain, the energy remained high.

More than three decades after its founding, the New Queens Pride Parade continues to serve as both a celebration and a platform — bringing together joy, activism, culture and community in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City.

More Photos From the New Queens Pride Parade

× ❮ ❯