What began as a two-block party in its early years has matured into a vibrant smorgasbord of events spanning over half a mile, beckoning thousands of eager participants from all across the country at the edge of west Harlem.
Along a now six-block stretch, tens of thousands of celebrants came out for Harlem Pride, now in its 15th year. On the penultimate day of Pride Month, the blocks of 12th Avenue between 133rd and 138th street overflowed with song, dance and laughter.
At the nucleus of the event, Carmen Neely, co-founder and CEO of Harlem Pride, proudly oversaw a decade and a half of growth, nurturing what was once a relatively modest concept into a major, versatile attraction for scores of people each June. In recent times, Neely takes on the challenge of continuing this legacy of diversity and growth through Harlem Pride, making history as the very first consistent, sponsored celebration of LGBTQ+ people in NYC. After 15 years, she recalls facing many setbacks, including achieving general acceptance, finding affordable event space, and fielding incessant questions of why ‘Black prides’ should even exist.
“Our key to overcoming these obstacles has been our willingness to learn and adapt, and take small steps to test the waters before fully implementing a new program or event,” Neely told AmNews.
The modern Harlem revolutionary continues the legacy of generations of LGBTQ+ innovators who have consistently pushed the boundaries of culture in a historically underrepresented community. From the Harlem Renaissance onwards, Harlem has been a pioneering location for LGBTQ+ visibility, especially in the entertainment industry. It was here that the first drag balls were held, and queer nightclubs thrived, providing safe spaces for thousands to express their authentic selves.
Although Harlem Pride’s primary objective is to recognize the progression of Harlem’s LGBTQ+ community, the festival’s leaders expressed understanding of their duty as a collective of underrepresented groups to advocate for the wellbeing of other minorities. This year, Harlem Pride hosts Marquise Vilson and Dominique Jackson launched the day of performances on the main stage with words of empathy and an appeal to action regarding the war in Gaza.
“We know it’s on us to show up for everybody, not just our own struggles,” Vilson said.
The Fair Housing Justice Center (FJHC) was one of many sponsored organizations curated for the advocacy of LGBTQ+ members in the face of domestic discrimination. The center’s executive director, Elizabeth Grossman, paired pens and bookmarks featuring liberating visuals with personalized brochures printed in both English and Spanish. Throughout the day, Grossman was able to advertise the center as a tool to “help eliminate housing discrimination”.
Enoch Naklen photos
Although the FHJC is small, Harlem Pride provides ample opportunity to reach hundreds of LGBTQ+ members in NYC in need of this support. In this way, the venues’ multifunctional structure promotes a broader sense of reassurance regarding the continuous commitment of major NYC corporations to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ members in the city
Alongside the sponsored venues were countless more independent Harlem-based businesses. The Harlem Pride festival provided an outlet for established and upcoming LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in need for some well deserved exposure.
Among these entrepreneurs was Tunita James, author of Barnes and Nobles bestseller, “Ma, Where’s Mommy” and “Grace’s Playdate.” Recognizing a disparity in the representation of LGBTQ+ families, James created “Grace’s Universe” for “all children to see their families in books” and “for future families and what they could be.” Reminiscent of all other vendors, the mission, as James remarks, is rooted in the idea of “spreading self love and actualization.” These participants were inspired by the shared goals of promoting innovation and joy within the LGBTQ+ community.
The festival also interactive pop-up shops from over 20 sponsors from across NYC and beyond, including TD Bank, NYC Health, New York Presbyterian, and DoorDash that shared the blocks with smaller organizations that assisted with providing various contraceptives, HIV testing, and outlets to help with name changes.
Neely spent most of the celebration hovering around the center stage on 138th street, which offered a huge platform for 15 upcoming artists within the LGBTQ+ community throughout the festival. She pointed to that stage as another visible sign of the celebration’s growth over the years.
“Most of our stage show artists have large social media followings, but rarely get to perform live in front of a large audience. Black prides like Harlem Pride are key in providing visibility for such artists,” she said.