Scenes of love at Bronx Pride

*Happy festival goers cheering on Egyptt LaBeija during her performance*

This past Saturday, The Bronx celebrated its annual LGBTQIA+ pride festival at The Hub hosted by Destination Tomorrow, the borough’s official pride center.

The day started with a march that began on the Grand Concourse at 161st Street in front of Joyce Kilmer Park where Bronx artist Lovie Pignata painted a pride crosswalk thanks to the support of Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

*Marchers lined up at the Bronx Pride Crosswalk on the Grand Concourse at 161st Street which was designed and painted by Bronx artist Lovie Pignata*

Well before the crack of dawn, Lovie began to paint the pride crosswalk at 4AM to ensure it was ready for the march which kicked off from the site at noon.

While we were there documenting the painting of the crosswalk, the reaction of local residents was truly heart-warming and they had nothing but positive comments to say and were nothing but supportive.

Those positive sentiments from local residents continued as the march, which was led by several grand marshalls, including life-long Bronxite and host of BronxTalk, Gary Axelbank, South Bronx activist Clarisa Alayeto, and Bronx BP, Vanessa Gibson, down the Grand Concourse before turning on 149th Street and heading towards the Bronx Pride Festival at The Hub.

Once the marchers arrived at the festival, the day continued with dozens of performances from singers to spoken word, and, of course, drag queens doing their thing including icons like Egyptt LaBeija.

The Bronx Pride Festival is but just one of many pride celebrations that happen across The Bronx during pride season. Last weekend was the first ever Bronx Pride Pop-Up hosted the Southern Boulevard Business Improvement District, the Fordham BID, and the 161st Street BID at three different locations.

City Island, and Riverdale also had pride celebrations and of course there is the yearly Bronx Pride Festival and Health Fair at Crotona Park hosted by the “Queen of The Bronx”, Appolonia Cruz which will be held Saturday, July 20th from 11AM to 7PM.

Thanks to Destination Tomorrow and all who made Saturday a beautiful day to celebrate nothing but love in The Bronx.

Check out the Bronx Pride gallery below!

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Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.