Latest news with #KazzAlexander
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NYC Pride Parade sees noticeable drop in corporate sponsorships amid DEI backlash
New York City's Pride Parade draws a colorful, overflowing crowd to celebrate the LGBTQ community each year. But there was one glaring difference in 2025 compared to previous years: a noticeable drop in visible corporate sponsorships adorning the parade route. The parade celebrated its 55th anniversary this year. The official theme, 'Rise Up: Pride and Protest,' was selected to honor the legacy of the first Pride march in 1970, the year after the Stonewall Inn riots, according to the event organizers. But the theme also reflected the mixed reception of nationwide rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. 'We've experienced maybe a dip in about $750,000 in sponsorship. But we've actually raised $110,000 in just the last couple of days from 250 unique sponsors,' said Kazz Alexander, co-chair of NYC Pride. 'So that demonstrates how much people are willing to commit to this cause and how much we're all coming together.' Norman Trotter moved to New York City from Los Angeles and is celebrating his first East Coast Pride but is a bit disappointed in the lack of visible corporate sponsors. '[I'm] hurt, you know, because we are also supporting these companies, or going to their stores or shops or giving them money for them to pull back and say, 'You're not worth it.' It's painful,' Trotter told NBC News at the parade Sunday. Sophia Huf moved to the East Coast from Minnesota and is also celebrating their first NYC Pride. 'I love seeing all the diversity and how many people are just out here,' they said. But they said they are concerned with the lack of companies on the parade route this year. 'It hurts a little bit. Like certain companies ... I really feel like they did care for a long time, especially with stuff like their trans health care, stuff like that. And now that they're kind of pulling back on that DEI, it hurts. It feels like a betrayal,' they said. According to a survey from Gravity Research, 39% of corporations are scaling back external Pride Month engagements this year. That's a double-digit increase from last year, when only 9% of corporations were changing their Pride plans. An NBC News report also found that the organizers of several of the country's premier Pride celebrations lost an estimated $200,000 to $350,000 apiece in funding from corporate sponsors this year. 'We went out and we surveyed a group of corporate executives, 49 executives, to be specific, in the run-up to Pride Month,' Gravity Research President Luke Hartig said. 'Sixty-five percent of our respondents said that they feared backlash in some way to their Pride engagement. And when we asked them specifically what stakeholders are driving your adjustments to Pride, overwhelmingly, the biggest drivers of those adjustments were the Trump administration and conservative activists and consumers,' Hartig told NBC News. Additionally, Gravity Research found that no companies surveyed in 2025 reported an increase in Pride investments. Hartig said many of these large corporations are continuing internal DEI efforts but have lowered their public visibility for supporting identity-based months, like February's Black History Month and June's Pride, due to fear of backlash. 'Backlash can take a number of tangible effects. It can result in consumer-related boycotts. It can certainly result in the tarnishing of a brand. I think when it comes to the fear that a number of our respondents cited of the Trump administration, it also threatens to pull companies into this broader kind of anti-DEI effort we've seen from the administration,' he said. 'And that has included threats of investigations from the Department of Justice, from the FCC, from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. So to the extent that companies are concerned that they could get pulled into some of those broader investigations because of their actions, in private [they] certainly [are] going to have a chilling effect on their actions,' Hartig added. Just this week, the Supreme Court sided with Maryland parents who wanted to opt their children out of learning from LGBTQ themed books in classrooms. Globally, Pride parades have also faced major backlash. Yet over 100,000 people still showed up to a Pride parade in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday despite a government ban. Attendees of the New York parade on Sunday said despite the rollbacks, it's more important than ever to celebrate the LGBTQ community. 'We need to show people that we're here, we're not going away. This can't be hidden. We cannot be hidden because we are people too. It's a show that we are people. We have pride in ourselves and our community, and should all come together,' Trotter said. This article was originally published on
CBS News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
NYC Pride March draws more than 1 million to Manhattan to express joy, love, and defiance
The grand finale of Pride Month was held Sunday in New York City, starting with a march past the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay rights movement. The march covered 1.8 miles in Manhattan, and the sidewalks were jammed on a day that was all about joy, love, and defiance. Read more: Pride Month photos show celebrations in communities around the world Rise Up: Pride in Protest The theme for the march this year was "Rise Up: Pride in Protest." Among the estimated 1 million participants was storyteller and advocate Martin Boyce, who was 21 years old when he took part in the uprisings that lit a fire for the gay liberation movement. "I'm a Stonewall veteran," Boyce said. "It means not letting yourself down, putting your pride first." "Protest for those who are marginalized because when those who are marginalized have access, we all benefit," said Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride co-chair. Gov. Hochul vows to defend LGBTQ community Elected officials and candidates marched and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul made the following vow: "We will always fight back and defend this community," she said. Participants spoke of the importance of the march, given the current state of affairs in the country. "I know the world is going to wherever it's going. So I just wanted to come out and enjoy myself today and enjoy everybody honoring themselves," one said. "Everyone can just be together and happy in their own safe space," another participant said. "Definitely, the inclusivity. I think that's the best part of it. To see everybody happy and joyful just to celebrate, it's really great," another added. "Our existence is resistance. So if we're happy, it's defiance. Just like that we're being defiant," said Jen Baquial, president of the Sirens Women's Motorcycle Club. "I'm so grateful to be here with such an incredible group of people," LGBTQ advocate Steve Love Mendez said. After the march, PrideFest buzzed with similar excitement into the evening. And while 2025 saw a drop In visible corporate sponsorship and corporate funding, individuals came to the rescue with some extra dollars to keep Pride alive, determined and unapologetic. NYPD protests one of march's policies Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch protested the march over a policy she says discriminates against LGBTQ members of law enforcement. She stood alongside police members who are part of the Gay Officers Action League, or GOAL, right before the march stepped off on Fifth Avenue. Heritage of Pride, which runs the event, has banned armed officers in uniforms since 2021. It said this year it only banned weapons, but Tisch said officers cannot wear uniforms without weapons. She called the move a "PR stunt." "At a time where our rights are so under attack, it is really unbelievable to me that Heritage of Pride has decided to exclude us in this way," Tisch said. "It's a matter of public safety and personal safety for our officers. When they put on their uniforms, they must carry their weapons with them, and I will not budge on that." Hochul also voiced her support for the NYPD, saying officers deserve to be "seen, respected and fully included."
Mint
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
NYC Pride March 2025 rises in protest: Here's how to watch and why it matters
New York City's 54th annual Pride March steps off today, Sunday, June 29, at 11 a.m., flooding Manhattan streets with thousands celebrating LGBTQ+ resilience. This year's theme, "Rise Up: Pride in Protest," responds to increased political hostility and scaled-back corporate support, with 39% of companies reducing Pride initiatives. The 1.8-mile route begins at 26th Street and 5th Avenue, passing the Stonewall National Monument before dispersing at 15th Street and 7th Avenue. Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride co-chair was quoted as saying, 'We must support one another, because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit.' 'Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins," Alexander continued. For those unable to attend, ABC-7 (WABC-TV) will broadcast the march live starting at noon ET, with free streaming available on Grand Marshals Karine Jean-Pierre, activist Marti Gould Cummings, DJ Lina, Elisa Crespo, and advocacy group Trans formative Schools will lead the procession. Concurrently, PrideFest – the city's largest LGBTQIA+ street fair – runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along 4th Avenue. Despite heightened security with 10,000 barriers and police patrols, officials confirm no credible threats exist. The march commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, where patrons of the Greenwich Village gay bar resisted police harassment, igniting the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. When same-sex intimacy was criminalized, bars like Stonewall provided rare safe havens. The first anniversary march in 1970 launched this tradition of protest and visibility, leading to President Clinton declaring June Pride Month in 1999 and President Obama designating Stonewall a national monument in 2016. Today's event embodies that legacy, challenging ongoing discrimination while celebrating hard-won freedoms as millions rally worldwide.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
NYC Pride march 2025: When, where, theme and free streaming details
New York City is holding its annual Pride March today, Sunday, June 29. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs through Manhattan. Thousands of people are expected to show up. June has been all about recognizing LGBTQ+ people—their lives, their history, and the challenges they still face. New York City is holding its annual Pride March today, Sunday, June 29, that will start at 26th Street and 5th Avenue and conclude at 15th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan.(REUTERS) Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride co-chair said, 'We must support one another, because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit.' He added, 'Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins.' Theme of Pride March As per reports, the march will start at 26th Street and 5th Avenue and conclude at 15th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. This year's theme of Pride March is 'Rise up: Pride in Protest.' Where to watch ? You can watch the live-stream of Pride March on ABC-7 (WABC-TV) or stream it at starting at noon ET. This year's grand marshals include Karine Jean-Pierre, Marti Gould Cummings, DJ Lina, Elisa Crespo, and Trans formative Schools. According to Gravity Research, 39% of business leaders said their companies are scaling back Pride support in 2025 amid President Donald Trump's second term. Also Read: Budapest Pride March 2025: Here's why large crowd gathered to protest against Viktor Orbán Pride March history The origin of the Pride march dates back to the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located in the Village where police raided and attacked the patrons. At the time, same-sex couples were prohibited from dancing or holding hands in public, but the Stonewall Inn was one of the few venues where someone was simply free to be themselves. The raid resulted in protests that lasted for days and became a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. A year after people marched from Stonewall Inn to Central Park as a remembrance and to keep pushing for rights. In 1999, former President Bill Clinton declared June as Pride Month, then ex- President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall Inn as a national monument in 2016, as per Fast Company report.
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
NYC Pride March honors Stonewall Riots with 2025 theme, "Rise Up: Pride and Protest"
It's time for Pride in New York City, as the 2025 Pride March steps off this Sunday in Manhattan. Organizers say this year's theme honors the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall Riots and the inaugural Pride March that was held the following year. What is the NYC Pride theme for 2025? The 2025 theme is "Rise Up: Pride and Protest." The Stonewall Inn, now the site of the Stonewall National Monument on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, is considered the birthplace of the gay rights movement. On June 28, 1969, when homosexual acts were still outlawed in New York City, police raided the bar -- a place of refuge for the gay community and frequent target of harassment. The raid set off six days of clashes between police and LGBTQ+ protesters, and the riots that followed spearheaded LGBTQ+ activism in the United States. "I think, especially at this time of year and in this sort of political climate, this is an opportunity for us to say what we want to say. 'Pride and Protest' is a callback, or a recall, to the heritage of the Pride Movement," Kazz Alexander, co-chair of NYC Pride, told CBS News New York. "It's OK to show up as you are, we're an inclusive space. So if folks feel free to protest, they can," he said. "It's a welcoming environment to say and think your perspective. We want everyone to be able to show up as their authentic selves." Alexander said, as a native New Yorker, the annual march is a demonstration of what the city is all about. "This weekend, we see the town sort of painted in rainbow, as it has been all month, but this is an opportunity to show, I think, the rest of the world what inclusion looks like. New York is a place that is, even if other folks don't want it to be, the most welcoming city, and I think this weekend and the Pride March is a reflection of that," he said. "So we welcome everybody to be themselves -- the rainbow isn't just about the queer movement, although that is very much the center of it, it's about fostering an inclusive space, and that needs to resonate everywhere." NYC Pride faces sponsorship challenges for 2025 Organizers say 20% of corporate sponsors dropped or scaled back their support this year, leaving the group with a $750,000 funding gap. "Our organization, just like many other organizations in the Pride Movement, have experienced some shortfalls with regard to our fundraising this year. But we're not federally funded, we're not funded by the state, so I think some of the federal executive orders have sort of scared some sponsors a bit," Alexander said. "We've had many sponsors double down and actually support us even further. So we're really looking for support from individual donors, from other foundations, who really believe that creating a safe space for everyone is important." Alexander said they had to limit some programming, but have been able to keep their Pride Fest street festival and Youth Pride event alive. "One of our most important events this weekend is our Youth Pride, which is, for many young people, their very first opportunity for them to celebrate their unique individuality. So we think it's important for us to continue to create those safe spaces, even if we don't have the funding sources that we've had before," he said. Combatting LGBTQ+ hate Vijah Ramjattan, executive director of New York City's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, says, "There's no place for hate in New York City." "If you commit a crime, the police will be out there," he told CBS News New York. The latest available data from the NYPD show 11 LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 16 in the same time period the year prior. Ramjattan said his office is working to educate and heal communities. "It will take all of us. Hate crimes cannot be solved or dismantled from the top, it has to be from the grassroots level," he said. "I also know that people in New York City want to know about each other. So the more we can create opportunities to speak to each other, get to know each about other, that's what we're focused on." He also spoke about the importance of reaching younger New Yorkers. "We know that if we want to stop hate crimes that adults do, we have to ensure that the youths who are going to be adults one day are educated about hate crimes and they understand the consequences of hate crimes," he said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch are scheduled to speak about Pride security at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Watch their briefing live on CBS News New York, in the video player above.
