OUR HISTORY

From Courtroom to Main Street: The Birth of Long Island Pride

In 1991, a small group of local activists dreamed of bringing Pride home—to Long Island. But when they applied for a permit to hold the very first Long Island Pride Parade, they were denied. Refusing to accept invisibility, they took their case to court. And they won.
That victory marked more than just a legal milestone—it was the beginning of a movement.

Led by co-founders David Kilmnick, Cara Wilson, Steve Heneghan, and Leah Gustavson, the very first Long Island Pride march stepped off in Huntington Village with determination, purpose, and joy. It was grassroots, all-volunteer, and powered by the simple yet powerful idea that LGBTQ+ people on Long Island deserved to be seen, heard, and celebrated—right in their own hometown.

35 Years of Pride, Progress, and Power

What started as a small act of defiance has grown into the largest and most visible celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride in the region. Long Island Pride is not just a parade or a party—it’s a declaration of love, identity, and community. It is a vehicle for visibility, safety, and lasting change.

Over the past three and a half decades, Long Island Pride has welcomed tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people, families, allies, advocates, and changemakers to march, rally, and celebrate together. What began as a historic march down Main Street has become a full-day experience, culminating in an all-out festival and live concert in Heckscher Park that brings thousands together every year.

From its all-volunteer beginnings to its current role as a flagship program of the New York LGBT Network, Long Island Pride continues to thrive with the same spirit that launched it in 1991—a defiant belief that we all deserve to live with dignity, safety, and pride.

Why Long Island Pride Matters Most

This isn’t just another Pride celebration—it’s the Pride event that drives real change across our region. Long Island Pride is the largest, most impactful, and most visible display of LGBTQ+ love, unity, and resistance on Long Island. It’s where we gather to celebrate who we are—and to power the year-round work that protects and uplifts our community.

Across Long Island, more events are emerging, and while many create moments of visibility, Long Island Pride stands apart. It’s not just about one day—it’s about lasting impact. Proceeds from this celebration go directly back into the community through the New York LGBT Network’s vital programs: from making schools safer, to supporting LGBTQ+ youth and seniors, advancing health equity, and fighting for our rights.

This Is Where You Belong

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are joining us for the first time—this is the Pride that makes a difference. It’s bold. It’s joyful. It’s defiant. And it’s rooted in a legacy of justice, visibility, and grassroots power.

 
Be seen. Be counted. Be part of the Pride that stands for more—because our joy fuels progress, and our presence demands change.