For many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride this year is a special one. Not only is it a way to say, in the words of Frankie Grandie, "Hey society, we're here, we're queer, and we're fabulous AF!" in the face of growing anti-gay and anti-trans rhetoric. It's also a way to show younger folks that there is a light. As Hernando Umana tells us, "I have a 13-year-old trans niece who lives in Texas...I want to continue being the representation she needs to know that we as queer humans are loved and thriving!"

On June 23-24, Playbill and Times Square Alliance are hosting Pride in Times Square–a festival of concerts, performances, sing-alongs, and interactive installations celebrating NYC Pride Weekend. Ahead of the festivities, we asked the event's participants to reflect on what Pride means to them this year. Scroll down to read more of their reflections. And for more reflections, read part 1 of this series here.

John Carrion (Executive Director, NYC Gay Men's Chorus)

What does Pride mean to you?
For me, Pride is an annual celebration where we take stock on the progress we've made and remind the entire world who we are, what we have accomplished, and how we contribute to the bright tapestry of life. In many ways, Pride month is a reminder to all queer people that we are queer not just in June but all year long. Pride, therefore, is our most visible opportunity to share our authentic selves with each other and with everyone.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
We believe it to be firmly important for us to be part of Pride in Times Square because, as a leading queer arts organization, we want to share the stage with our friends in the Broadway community to show solidarity, strength, perseverance, and, of course, Pride. We relish the opportunity to perform in one of the most iconic places in the world during one of the most exciting times of the year. We hope that our performance will be a reminder to all people that there is a community for them and that all people are deserving of love and friendship.

Billy Recce (Musician)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride to me is about releasing the burden of the inner saboteur, teaching it a few dance steps, and helping it style its first shake and go wig, and then letting it tell all the haters out there to fuck all the way off through the most fabulous musical number you’ve seen. Pride is a celebration of the things that make us who we are, and a confirmation that no part of ourselves deserves to be hidden. 

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
Especially now when queer people, and the very art forms that we as queer people hold dear, are so viciously and deceptively under attack, getting to share my queer-ass art in the center of the city where Pride began is more than an honor; its a reminder that the work that we do as queer artists matters if it reaches just one person out there who’s afraid to be themself.

Antwayn Hopper (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means love and acceptance of one’s own evolution...therefore celebrating OTHERS as well: PEOPLE who love PEOPLE! How blessed and beautiful we all are! PRIDE!

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
To be a part of something as remarkable and IMPORTANT of a topic—especially right now—is GROUNDBREAKING! We are HERE and we are PRIDE! It’s so fitting because NYC is the epicenter of what PRIDE is and looks like! I LOVE MY CITY—with so much RAINBOW PRIDE! Let’s color TIME SQ WITH OUTLANDISH unapologetic PRIDE! Thank you Bryan and Playbill + partners!

MacKenzie Cannon (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means being your most authentic self and celebrating it! It’s important for me to be part of Pride in Times Square because it’s my first year celebrating Pride in New York City, where i feel most empowered by my queerness.

Drew Wutke (Music Director)

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
Because the world needs more space where everyone of every identity can celebrate our rich and complicated history, while taking pride in who we are today and could be in the future. And because when we fill our lives making music together with a little SingOutLouisery, we can bring more dignity, humanity, and love into the world.

Helen Shen (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
To me, Pride means JOY, and celebrating and loving and laughing despite how others may feel about it. Pride is history and remembering all of the people who came before us who fought to make it a little easier for us to exist.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
It's important for me to be a part of Pride this year because I started attending NYC Pride when I was a far less sure version of myself today. I owe it to the younger version of me to acknowledge the growing pains, and to celebrate the joyous moments. As a queer person, it's so easy to feel isolated and ostracized. But with events like Pride, we remember that we are one of many, and that the community is large and ever-growing.

Jason Gotay (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is an invitation to be your truest self, whoever that may be. It’s queer history’s past, present, and future. It’s joy, it’s celebration, but most importantly, it’s knowing you belong. 

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
It’s important for me to celebrate Pride in Times Square because it is the epicenter of New York City and our beloved theatre community! Can’t wait to see you there!

Zoe Sarnak (Composer)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means so many things to me. Personally it is deeply moving to proactively affirm this beautiful rainbow of queer identities - not just to accept but to celebrate who we are. By being ourselves and loving proudly, we make our homes and communities stronger. Pride also, of course, reminds me of the power of activism and the people who led the movements that we proudly carry forward.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
I love our theatre world, making music and telling stories. So any time we can combine pride and our community I’m thrilled!

DJ Mike Borowski

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is a time to celebrate all the incredible and hard-fought accomplishments of our diverse community. But it’s also a time to stand strong together against those looking to take them away.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
I’m so excited to be part of Pride in Times Square this year! It marries my 2 loves: Music and Broadway. And where better to celebrate than the center of the universe!!

Frankie Grande (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is like a rebellious rainbow revolution, turning the world into one giant dance floor where fabulousness knows no bounds! Pride is our sassy way of saying, "Hey society, we're here, we're queer, and we're fabulous AF!" So let's strut down the streets like it’s our catwalk, waving rainbow flags like they're going out of style. And remember, darling, the best way to make a political statement is with a killer high heel and a fierce hair flip, cause we’re not going anywhere. Period.

Rocco Duranti (Dancer)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is a time of year to celebrate everyone, their uniqueness, and to truly be proud of who I am. I know I had a difficult time coming out, so Pride month is always especially close to my heart.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
Performing for Pride in Times Square is truly a dream come true for me, I get to be myself, expressing myself how I want, in one of the most iconic destinations in the world!

Eric Krop (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
What Pride means to me is celebrating the freedom to live in joy, unafraid to be myself, and to show the world that there is room here for everyone.

Andrew Richard Norlen (Author)

What does Pride mean to you?
For me, Pride is the embodiment of my truth. The acknowledgment of what has been, the acceptance of what will be, and the pursuit of what currently is—right before me. Pride is a daily wrestle to excavate the layers of lies I've adopted along the way, and instead, step into the power of the daily choice to pursue truth with every fiber within me.

Hernando Umana (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means walking into every room unapologetically me. It means being the representation I wish I would’ve had as a kid. It means honoring the legacy of the millions of queer humans who never got the chance to be themselves.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
I have a 13-year-old trans niece who lives in Texas who has to hear all the hatred regarding who she is. I want to continue being the representation she needs to know that we as queer humans are loved and thriving!

Adam Rei Siegel (Producer)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is a month to show the entire world that our entire community is worthy of respect, worthy of recognition and, ultimately, unapologetically proud of who we are through and through.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
Now more than ever, it's important for our wide-reaching community to be proud of who we are and to stand together in resilience. When I was told about this opportunity to be loud and proud of our authentic selves in one of the most recognizable tourist destinations in the world, I knew I had to be a part of it!

Will Mann (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride for me is a reminder of how far we’ve come but also how far we still have to go.

Diana Huey (Actor)

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
It means so much to me to be able to help celebrate Pride in Times Square! When I faced struggles being "othered," the main thing that helped me get through it was the love and support from family, friends and surprisingly, from people that I didn't even know. I have so many loved ones in the LGBTQIA+ community who I can't imagine my life without. I proudly stand with them today, every day and am honored to get to a be a small part of the beautiful celebration with them at Pride in Times Square!

Anita Welch (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Celebrating my LGBTQ+ siblings and friends. Loving them and their children fiercely.

Jaylon Mccraven (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride to me is the liberation and freedom to experience yourself. Pride goes all the way back to my ancestors of being proud of the blackness on my skin and the heritage that I’m proud of. As a queer individual it goes back to the lineage of Black/POC LBGT+ who proudly stood up for themselves and fought for a space. Pride is more than me, it’s about the legacy of what was before and the legacy I will leave behind for others.

What does performing in Times Square for Pride mean to you?
This upcoming pride is so important because we are living in a time where our rights are being stripped away from us every day. We are fighting yet again for a space at a table that wasn’t meant for us to sit at. This upcoming pride in NYC time square is important because it holds an opportunity to showcase allyship, freedom and safe space for others to feel whole.

Bassam Kubba (Aerial Artist)

What does Pride mean to you?
Gay Pride to me means the liberation to authentically express my identity, celebrating the progress towards equality for gay individuals, and acknowledging the profound impact this movement has had on saving lives and fostering a more inclusive society.

What does performing in Times Square for Pride mean to you?
Being part of Pride in Times Square this year is important to me because it allows us to inspire others, affirm our presence, and demonstrate that we are an enduring community. By participating, we show unwavering support for the younger generation, letting them know they have a network of support to embrace their true selves. It's an opportunity to work towards a future where being LGBTQ+ is considered normal and where no one has to fight for acceptance any longer.

Eliana Slurzberg (Dancer)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride to me is a time for the LGBTQIA+ community to remember our past by honoring the icons that led the movement for our rights. Pride is also about acknowledging that we still have a long fight ahead of us towards global acceptance, but not backing down. And most importantly, Pride means celebrating where we are today as the diverse, brilliant, talented and fierce individuals that make up our communities!

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
It’s important to be a part of Pride in Times Square because it is one of the only times throughout the year that I can show up as myself—wholly and unapologetically! It’s such a gift!

Estelle Rivera (Dancer)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride for me means union and equality.

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
For me it is a privilege to have the opportunity to dance for so many people in the middle of Times Square.

Jessie Alagna (Actor)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is about celebration, love, acceptance, and standing up for a beautiful diverse community that has always been here and always will be.

Holly Dae (Drag Queen)

What does Pride mean to you?
Pride is a time to celebrate our community and identity. However for me, Pride is not a day, it's not a week, it's not a month, it's a lifestyle! You should always be proud of who you are and where you come from. Pride month is a fabulous reminder of that! :)

Why is it important for you to be part of Pride in Times Square this year?
Right now our community is under attack. Trans Rights, Gay Rights, Gay marriage, so we need to be louder and prouder than ever before. We need to show that love will always beat hate. And what better way to spread that message than in the busiest place in America: the Great White Way!