NYC Pride 2021.

NYC Pride 2021 was unlike any other. With the official Pride March still virtual due to COVID-19, the real action was in the streets — the Queer Liberation March, the 29th Annual NYC Dyke March, and spontaneous gatherings across Manhattan. This gallery documents those moments: protests calling for trans rights and police accountability, celebrations at Washington Square Park, and the unfiltered joy of a community that refuses to wait for permission to be free. Photographed by Issa Khari.

Crowd of people at a protest or rally, some holding rainbow and pride flags, and a sign that says 'DYKE LOVE'.
Crowd of marchers holding a banner that reads 'Black Power 29th Annual NYC Dyke March' during a pride event in New York City, with some participants wearing rainbow accessories, colorful shirts, and masks.
A young woman at a protest holding a sign that reads, 'Trans women are still being fucking murdered.'
People participating in a march or protest, holding signs that read "NO POLICE IN OUR MARCH" and "TRANS LOVE". The setting appears to be outdoors with trees and city lights in the background.
A crowd of people at a protest or rally, with one person holding a sign that reads 'Trans Love'. Many are wearing masks and some are holding flags, with trees and city buildings in the background.
Crowd of diverse people at a protest or rally, with a woman holding a sign that reads 'Thank God I'm Gay'.
People gathered at a protest, with one woman holding a sign that reads "We Will Live Free"
A large crowd of people gathered in a city street during a parade or protest. The street is lined with tall buildings and lush green trees. The Empire State Building is visible in the background, and traffic lights are hanging over the intersection.
A woman holding a rainbow flag at a pride rally, wearing sunglasses and a sign on her chest that says 'It is our duty to fight for our freedom.' She is standing on a raised surface, surrounded by a crowd of diverse people, some taking photos and hold
Crowd of people at a rally or protest, with a woman holding a sign that says 'DYKE AS IN ACAB' in the center of the image.
A white sculpture of a humanoid figure with a box-like structure on its head, standing on a platform, surrounded by a crowd at an outdoor event.
A young girl crouches near water fountains in a crowded outdoor setting during a rainbow flag event, with people in swimwear and colorful attire in the background.
Colorful protest parade with large puppet caricatures of political figures, including a woman with a Statue of Liberty head, in a park with green trees and crowd of people.
A person holding a rainbow pride flag with the word 'PEACE' in white letters at a street Pride parade, surrounded by diverse people, some wearing masks.
Crowd of people participating in a protest march in an urban area, holding signs advocating for social and political causes.
A group of young people, some shirtless and some wearing swimsuits, enjoying themselves under a fountain with water splashing around.
People enjoying a water fountain in a crowded outdoor event, with some individuals wet and smiling.
Crowd at a pride parade with rainbow flags, some wearing colorful clothing, and a person holding a sign that reads 'Ethical Slut'
A person wearing sunglasses, a bucket hat, and a face mask holding a rainbow fan and a smartphone while walking in a crowd during a Pride event.
Crowd of diverse individuals participating in a pride march or LGBTQ+ protest, holding signs with messages supporting equality, human rights, and against discrimination, some with rainbow flags and colorful accessories.
Person holding a protest sign at a Pride parade, wearing denim shorts and gray sneakers, with a crowd and cars in the background.
A person dressed in avant-garde fashion, with chains and shiny accessories, walking across a city street with a crowd of onlookers taking photos.
Crowd of diverse people marching in a protest or demonstration on a city street with tall buildings, large banners, and protest signs. Two individuals are skywalking on a suspended beam above the crowd—one holding a phone, the other with a camera aro
Person dressed in an elaborate, provocative outfit with chains and leather accessories, wearing sunglasses and a starburst headpiece, participating in a parade or festival with onlookers in the background.
A diverse group of protesters marching in a demonstration, holding signs advocating for trans rights and against police violence, with a hotel in the background.
A person holding a colorful sign that reads, 'LOVE IS TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BE HIDDEN IN A CLOSET,' at a Pride parade, with a woman taking a photo or recording with a camera nearby.
Person celebrating and waving a rainbow pride flag during a parade or event on a city street, with tall buildings in the background.
A woman with short dark hair, wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt with white and beige text that says "Eat Pussy, It's Organic!", a beaded necklace, and black tattoos on her hands, standing indoors with a dark background.
A group of women at a pride event, dressed in colorful outfits, holding signs supporting sex work rights, with cheerful expressions.
A diverse group of protesters marching on a city street holding signs with messages advocating for rights and opposing violence, including a sign saying 'Stop Killing Us,' 'Healthcare is a Human Right,' and 'Ethical Slut.' The protesters are dressed
A protest rally with diverse protesters holding signs critical of police and advocating for LGBTQ rights, with a man in the foreground speaking into a megaphone labeled 'GAYS AGAINST GUNS'.
Crowd of people at a pride parade holding rainbow flags and signs, one sign reads 'LOVE WINS', some participants are wearing rainbow-themed accessories and apparel.
A person wearing a rainbow face mask and glasses holding a black sign that reads 'Power to the People' during a protest or rally with other participants in the background.
A person holding a sign that reads 'How DARE YOU PRESUME I'M CISGENDER' during a protest. The sign also contains the words 'QUEER LIBERATION MARCH 2021'. There are many people in the background holding signs and participating in the event.
A person wearing a colorful, patterned summer dress, a wide-brimmed straw hat, sunglasses, and various jewelry, walking in a crowd during what appears to be a parade or festival.
A woman in sunglasses and rainbow pride accessories holding a sign that says 'NYPD ACCOUNTABILITY' at a pride event, with other people in the background.
Crowd of protesters at a march holding signs, with a large sign reading 'STOP KILLING US' at the center.
A diverse group of people participating in a pride march, holding rainbow flags and signs supporting equality and rights.
A group of people walking outdoors, smiling, at what appears to be a festival or parade. The focus is on a young woman with curly hair wearing a floral headband and a purple top, and another woman with sunglasses and a colorful shirt. Other people in
An older man with glasses and a hat holds a protest sign during a pride parade. He is surrounded by diverse people, some wearing sunglasses and colorful clothing, in an outdoor setting.
A group of people, including a man with sunglasses, a beard, and a light-colored t-shirt, walking in a crowded outdoor event in daytime, with colorful flags and decorations in the background.
A crowd of people at a rally or protest, holding signs and flags, including a prominent black flag with white text that reads 'Black Lives Matter' and an illustration of a raised fist. One person in the crowd is holding a rainbow pride flag.
A young man in sunglasses and a pink baseball cap that says 'New York' stands among a crowd at a street event, with other people in summer clothing around him.
A woman holding a sign that reads 'Power to the People' at a protest or rally.
A diverse group of people participating in a pride parade, with rainbow flags and rainbow-themed accessories.
Smiling young woman with long braided hair making a peace sign at a crowded outdoor event.
People participating in a pride parade, with some wearing rainbow accessories and masks, amidst a crowd on the street during daylight.
A shirtless person with tattoos and chains walking in a pride parade, holding a water bottle and a phone, with others around, one holding a sign reading 'HIV IS NOT A CRIME'.
Two people roller skating hand in hand on a street with a crowd of people in the background. The woman has red hair, is wearing a black sheer top and denim shorts. The man is shirtless, wearing shorts, a hat, glasses, and a backpack.
Crowd of people marching outdoors, holding signs and flags with rainbow colors. One sign reads 'Gender is a construct, tear it apart.' The group is diverse, and some individuals are wearing rainbow-themed clothing and accessories.
A man smiling while riding a bicycle decorated with flowers, wearing a flower hat, sunglasses, a white hoodie, and plaid shorts, on a city street.
A woman wearing a black cap with 'CUNT' spelled out in gold letters, a white crop top with 'SEX SYMBOL' printed on it, and denim shorts, standing in a crowded outdoor event, talking to another woman.
A diverse group of people participating in a pride march on a city street, with many wearing masks, some playing drums, and one holding a sign with a picture and name of Muhlaysia Booher.
Protesters at a pride parade holding signs, including a man in sunglasses holding a cardboard sign that says 'NYPD. CEASE AND DESIST BITCHES'.
Two people walking across a city street during a pride parade, with a crowd of people and tall buildings in the background. The person on the left is wearing black shorts, fishnet tights, and a black tank top with rainbow suspenders, holding rainbow
A pride parade with diverse participants, including a young woman holding a sign that says 'PROTECT TRANS YOUTH', wearing rainbow-themed stickers on her face, surrounded by other people holding signs supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
A woman with short curly hair speaking into a microphone at a crowded outdoor gathering, with many people standing and some wearing masks.
Two men walking in a pride parade wearing matching white crop tops with rainbow and unicorn designs. One of them is holding a Barbie-themed fan, and the other has a matching fan with a rainbow. They are smiling and looking happy. In the background, o
People participating in a protest march supporting healthcare as a human right, holding signs like "Healthcare is a human right" and "No cops, no borders" in an urban setting.
Three people walking across a city crosswalk during a pride parade, dressed in colorful and bold outfits, with rainbow flags and pride-themed accessories.
A group of diverse people participating in a pride parade holding signs, with the person in front carrying a sign that reads 'STOP KILLING US' and wearing athletic clothing and red sneakers.
A diverse group of people marching in a parade holding a large pink banner that reads 'QUEER LIBERATION MARCH - NO JUSTICE WITHOUT DISABILITY JUSTICE!' during the pride event on June 27, 2021. Some participants are holding signs and wearing rainbow a
A diverse group of people participating in a pride parade march holds a pink banner that reads 'Queer Liberation March' and 'No Justice Without Disability Justice!'. The event takes place on a city street decorated with rainbow balloons, and some par
A diverse group of people gathered outdoors in a city, participating in a pride march or protest, with one person holding a sign that reads 'Respect My Pronouns'.
A group of diverse protesters, including individuals in wheelchairs, participating in a demonstration. They hold signs with slogans like 'No Cops, No Corps' and 'Black Deaf Lives Matter', with a large green and black bus and a brick building in the b
Two people kissing in a crowded outdoor shower event with others celebrating around them.
Group of people enjoying a summer outdoor event with some sitting on a float, surrounded by lush green trees.
A woman protesting at a rally, speaking into a megaphone with a black sign behind her that reads 'STOP KILLING US' in pink and yellow letters, surrounded by a group of diverse protesters holding signs.
An elderly woman at a pride parade, wearing colorful earrings, layered necklaces, a large button that reads 'Lesbians for Bush', and a vibrant, patterned dress. She has on a red jacket, a distinctive orange hat, and large, rhinestone glasses. The bac
Two men dressed in colorful, matching unicorn-themed outfits walking down a city street during a parade or festival. They are holding fans, and other parade participants dressed in vibrant clothing are visible in the background.
Smiling woman with a pink hat, sunglasses, and a pink bikini top walking in a city street parade, holding a cup and tote bag, with people and buildings in the background.
A man walking during the Queer Liberation March, wearing a pink T-shirt with the event date, June 27, 2017. He has a hat with pins, red sunglasses, a rainbow scarf, and beige shorts with custom patches.
Crowd of people gathered at an event under a rainbow-colored banner with the words 'LOVE WINS' in red, and part of a logo with the text 'the Church of the Village' visible. Many are wearing face masks.
A protest crowd holding a pink sign with black and red text that reads 'Trans Youth PNC' and a poster of a young woman named Tracy Single from Houston, TX, age 22.
A woman with short curly hair, wearing large hoop earrings and a strapless purple top with feather details, is speaking into a microphone at an outdoor event. She is holding a multicolored handbag and has multiple bracelets on her wrist. In the backg
Two people dressed in rainbow-themed clothing and body paint at a pride parade, smiling and talking, with other parade participants in the background.
Group of women dressed in alternative fashion styles standing on city street near traffic light.
Crowd of young people enjoying a water fight at a festival with water spraying everyone, some are holding drinks, wearing swimsuits and casual clothes, having fun.
Close-up of a young woman with wet skin, dark hair, and multiple facial piercings, looking directly at the camera.
Two young women dancing and having fun under water jets at a fountain, with several people in the background.
A woman with curly hair smiling, wearing a colorful, sequined top, holding a camera, in an outdoor setting during daylight.
Crowd of diverse people celebrating at an outdoor pride event, some wearing rainbow flags and face masks, others taking photos and dancing.
People celebrating at a lively event with joyful expressions, some wearing wet clothes, suggesting a water-based activity or festival.
Woman smiling and playing in a water fountain with water splashing around her, wearing a black dress with rainbow-colored trim.
Two women are enjoying themselves in a fountain, with water splashing around them. Both women are wearing swimsuits and are smiling and laughing. One woman is raising her arm and appears to be having fun.
A man and woman under a water fountain, with the man wearing shorts and the woman wearing a sheer top, engaged in a close, intimate moment.
People enjoying a water festival, dancing and celebrating with water splashing around them. They are wearing colorful and revealing clothing, with joyful expressions.
Two women kissing in the water during a lively crowded event, surrounded by people in swimsuits and colorful clothing, splashing water.
A diverse group of people at a pride event, standing in water, with some appearing emotional and embracing.
A person with curly pink hair standing in water at a lively outdoor event, wearing a rainbow-colored, see-through bodysuit and a colorful tutu skirt, surrounded by other people.
Group of young men celebrating and dancing in the water during a festival or celebration, with some holding bottles, one smiling widely and spraying water.
A woman in a white bikini top and bright yellow shorts stands in the middle of a crowded outdoor water party, holding a drink, with water splashing around her and people dancing.
A woman dancing and smiling in the rain at an outdoor event with a crowd in the background.
Two young people close together outdoors, one making a playful grimace and the other smiling softly, with a crowd blurred in the background.
Two people enjoying a pride parade, standing on someone's shoulders. The man is wearing red shorts, a yellow crop top, and sunglasses, with his arms raised. The woman is wearing pink shorts, a rainbow-colored tank top, and a rainbow hat with sunglass
A young woman with wet hair, eyes closed, mouth open, wearing a colorful, wet dress at an outdoor water festival with other people in the background.
People enjoying at a water fountain during a lively outdoor event. A woman is helping a person kneeling on the ground, while others watch and chat nearby.
Young boy in a swim shirt with a float on his chest lying on his stomach in a pool, reaching toward a white bottle floating on the surface.
Women dancing and playing in the rain at an outdoor event.
Two shirtless men holding hands and smiling in a water-filled area, with a crowd of people in the background at an outdoor event.
A shirtless person with dark skin, water droplets on their body, wearing multiple necklaces, bracelets, and a belt, with eyes closed and arm raised in a dance or celebration, outdoors with blurred crowd in the background.
People enjoying themselves in a water fountain, smiling and playing, on a lively summer day.
A shirtless man with dreadlocks and red sunglasses dancing in a flooded area during a parade or celebration, with people in colorful clothing in the background.
A man with blonde braids and sunglasses dancing in water at a crowded outdoor event.
A woman with dreadlocks holding an umbrella at an outdoor gathering or festival, surrounded by other people.
A person with a rainbow-colored shirt and mask helping a boy in colorful swim trunks stand up in a water setting during a Pride event.
People dancing and having fun at a party or concert, with some wearing festive accessories like unicorn horn headbands and colorful bandanas.
People dancing and celebrating at a night event with a fountain in the background.
People dancing at an outdoor concert or festival at night, some holding drinks, with a woman with tattoos in the center singing or shouting.
A hand with a gold ring on the ring finger is raised against a blurred multicolored background.
Group of young women dancing and posing outdoors at a festival or event, holding drinks, dressed in casual and colorful clothing, with a blurred crowd in the background.
People dancing closely at a party, with one person taking a photo of another who is covering their face with their hand.
A woman with blonde hair and tattoos riding on the shoulders of a man with dreadlocks in a water celebration with people splashing and having fun.
Two women sharing a kiss in a water fountain, with multiple people in the background.
People celebrating in a fountain during a parade, with many wearing colorful outfits and rainbow accessories, indicating a Pride event.
People dancing and enjoying music at a nighttime outdoor concert or festival.
People dancing and enjoying music at a lively party or concert, with a woman in the center stretching her arms out and leaning back.
A group of diverse people enjoying music at a concert or festival during nighttime, with some dancing and others looking at their phones.
A man lying shirtless on a black surface in a dimly lit area, surrounded by scattered bottles, cups, and trash, with people standing in the background.
People dancing and having fun at a night party or concert, illuminated by bright lights, with diverse styles and expressions.
A group of people dancing at a party or event, with the focus on two women in the center dancing closely and others surrounding them.
Group of people at a party, with a woman dressed as a unicorn and a man dressed casually, dancing and having fun, with some cheering and laughing.