From Broad Street to Mulberry Commons: Newark Pride Marks 20 Years of Progress

The streets of Newark came alive with color, music, and unity during Festivals United Newark's 20th Annual Pride Parade and Festival in the Park on Sunday, July 13. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Reclaiming Our Time: Legacy of Resistance,” resonated deeply with everyone gathered to celebrate two decades of LGBTQIA+ power in Newark.

Parade Grand Marshals Jae Quinlan, a visionary artist, curator and minister, and Gary Paul Wright, founder and executive director of the African American Office of Gay Concerns, led the energetic procession. Colorful floats with DJs and Pride representatives from University Hospital, the Newark Police Traffic Unit, and many others made their way from Lincoln Park down Broad Street to Mulberry Commons Park across from the Prudential Center. The 20th Annual Pride Festival in the Park started immediately after the parade ended.

"As an avid participant and Newarker, the Newark Pride Parade has held a special place in my heart for years,” said Quinlan. “I felt absolutely honored to lead this year’s parade through my town. My spirits were uplifted seeing so many people show up to support and flood our streets with love. This was a major victory for all of us.”

“I was extremely honored to be a part of Newark’s Pride Parade,” Wright said. “A lot has changed for our community since the ‘80s and moments like this are a reminder of how far we’ve come and still have yet to go. The Pride parade is a transformational experience and reflective of our collective strength, hope, and resilience.”

The Festival in the Park included electrifying performances by festival host by Milan Garçon, a Black Trans TV personality, journalist, and LGBTQ+ advocate; Dawn Richard, the founding member of the chart-topping girl group Danity Kane, and the headliner - TheARTi$T, a singer/songwriter whose emotional and deeply relatable music has made him a rising R&B sensation.

“Everyone can come together and feel seen and heard in Newark. The Pride celebrations remind us that even in trying times, we can both embody joy and stand firmly in resistance,” said Newark Pride President Alonzo S. Blalock. “The parade is a crown jewel for our city’s Pride celebrations and a reminder that loving kindness has no limits. We close out this year’s Pride stronger in community than ever before.”

The parade and festival concluded Newark Pride week, which for 20 years has promoted awareness, visibility, and empowerment in the city’s LGBTQIA+ community.