In New York, the Pride March Returned With a Renewed Sense of Purpose

On Sunday, the annual NYC Pride March returned after a two-year, COVID-induced hiatus with what at first appeared to be all the usual trappings: fluttering rainbow flags, explosions of kaleidoscopic confetti, theatrical carnival outfits, and blasting music. But in the shadow of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the celebrations were underpinned by a newfound sense of urgency too—not just around the ongoing battle for women’s reproductive freedom, but what that decision may augur for the LGBTQ+ community too in the upcoming months.

And while the NYC Pride March has been critiqued in the past for its corporate floats and heavy police presence, this year, the roots of Pride as protest felt more palpable than ever. In a last-minute decision by the organizers, the first group to march at the event was Planned Parenthood, kicking off proceedings with a mandate to protect safe and legal abortions.

Still, there was plenty of room for moments of joy, too, as revelers took the opportunity not just to consider an uncertain future, but also to celebrate the opportunity to come together. Here, see photographer Ryan McGinley’s view of the day as it unfolded, from the powerful political sloganeering on display to more intimate moments of humor and self-expression.