Pride in Washington Square Park: A Celebration with Complex Layers

In Washington Square Park each June, Pride celebrations reveal the evolving nature of LGBTQ+ visibility in New York City. This series examines the intersection of celebration and activism, questioning how expressions of identity transform within increasingly commercialized spaces. The project interrogates the relationship between local liberation and global persecution, capturing moments where jubilation exists alongside unspoken struggles.

The images consider Pride’s dual identity as both celebration and political movement. As rainbow capitalism reshapes these gatherings, the work questions what remains of their radical roots. The transformation of protest into spectacle raises questions about authenticity and advocacy—particularly as millions worldwide still face criminalization for their identities. Through careful observation of public space and social performance, the series explores how visibility can simultaneously amplify and silence.

This tension between progress and ongoing struggle defines Pride’s contemporary moment. While some revel in hard-won freedoms, others remain invisible within the celebration itself. The project invites viewers to question their own relationship to Pride, considering how collective gathering spaces serve as sites of both liberation and forgetting. These images challenge us to examine what true solidarity requires beyond the performance of acceptance.