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A mobile glitter bar, rainbow cowgirl and Bowen Yang: What we saw at the NYC Pride March
By
Jill Webb
Published Jun 28, 2026
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Jill Webb
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Jill Webb
Published Jun 28, 2026
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New York City's Pride March is as much about style as it is about making a statement.
This year’s festivities drew thousands of marchers along a route that stretched from 26th Street and 5th Avenue, through Greenwich Village and past the legendary Stonewall Inn.
Outfits included a neon rainbow cowgirl and a Victorian-era "warrior commander" in a frilly hat and stockings. One reveler offered a walking glitter bar.
Here are the best fits Gothamist saw at the march:
Michelle Escalara went with a spring vibe.
Jill Webb
Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang served as one of several grand marshals. He told Gothamist it was an honor to help lead the march.
“ It's really profound, especially at a time when we have to be as public as we can about our solidarity within the queer community. I think this is sort of the best convocation of that,” Yang said.
Bowen Yang at the NYC Pride March.
Jill Webb
Yang wore a simple white T-shirt with black pants, suspenders and a rainbow sash. He said the writing on his shirt is slang for “queer” in Chinese.
Barry Brown went with a rather different look.
Barry Brown in full rainbow attire.
Jill Webb
“ I am in a foam rainbow wig of just all kinds of weird tentacles ... and a beautiful rainbow skirt," Brown said. “ I come from a very small town in Indiana, so having this exposure was new to me when I moved here and it is one of the best things in my life.”
The heat was a factor. Temperatures reached the mid-80s with a fair amount of humidity.
"I wore this foam wig 'cause it's absorbing all the sweat," Brown said.
Jamie Unger (far right) for the neon cowgirl look.
Jill Webb
Jamie Unger, better known among friends as “Bunny,” took a different approach to the rainbow, with a bell sleeve crop top, bell bottoms and a hat to top off the neon cowgirl look.
”And then I have a sheer skirt that's showing my rainbow bikini underneath and I also have rhinestone pasties too. And then I have my hat that I made that has rhinestone tassels,” she said.
Frankie Mercedes said her glitter bar outfit was inspired by an Instagram post.
Jill Webb
And then there was Frankie Mercedes with a walking glitter bar. She said she was there to "share some glitter joy."
“I just wanted to celebrate Pride and give people some love and joy and sparkles,” Mercedes said.
Aurora Dekovitch donned a pink dress with pins, medals and ribbons for a “warrior” mood and said it was good to be with other queer, like-minded people.
Aurora Dekovitch was decked out with medals and pins for a "warrior commander" look.
Jill Webb
“ Pride, honestly, especially in this climate, like, this day and age, is super important because, of course, all of the legislation and everything that's against us that's even spreading throughout the whole world. So we really need community right now,” Dekovitch said.
Song Mo said he wore a traditional Chinese outfit with one key accessory — a 30-foot dragon flag.
Jill Webb
Evan Laurence attended with other members of the Imperial Court of New York, a charitable group with a royal “twist,” according to its website.
“ I'm a viscount and my court name is Evan Renaissance,” he said. “ I'm wearing a purple metallic outfit that I made myself. I have a beautiful sort of Pierrot collar of different metallic materials winding around my neck, different colors and a pointed purple sequin hat with a metallic holographic fringe hanging off it.”
Evan Laurence in an outfit he made.
Jill Webb
Shauna McCualey: " My outfit is asexual flag themed. I'm wearing a purple bandana, a white kind of corset top, black skirt and fishnets with these purple floral print Doc Martens."
Jill Webb
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