NYC Gay Pride Parade 2021 dates, times, route and restrictions

International LGBTQ+ Pride Day 2021 will be commemorated on 28 June. In addition, Pride Month activities run throughout the month of June to celebrate the self-affirmation and visibility of people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community and was created to raise awareness about the struggle for equality and dignity.

One of the cities most recognised for celebrating Pride is New York. For several days during the month, a series of parties and celebrations are organised throughout the city, culminating in the Pride Parade. Here are the details of this year's event.

New York City Pride Parade 2021: what to know

Last year, the in-person New York City (NYC) Pride Parade was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year the parade will once again be held virtually, however, the lifting of restrictions in NYC, as well as the advancement of the vaccination plan, will allow for other public activities to take place.

The official theme of the New York Pride Parade 2021 is "the struggle continues", as it seeks to reflect and raise awareness of the many adversities still faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some of the events taking place in NYC.

Frontrunners Pride Run

On 26 June, the 40th Annual LGBT+ Pride Run will be held in a hybrid form i.e. in-person as well as virtual. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to New Alternative, a non-profit organization focused on helping homeless LGBT+ youth. For more information, click here.

Youth Pride

Youth Pride will be a virtual experience for all teens and young people in the LGBTQ+ community. Starting at 3 pm ET on Saturday 26 June, young people from around the world will be able to celebrate Youth Pride with their friends through musical performances, LGBTQIA+ centre spotlights, DJs and other activities. Register here.

PrideFest

In-person and online, PrideFest returns for its 27th edition. PrideFest is a street fair that combines exhibitors, entertainers, food stalls and activities related to Pride Month.

Pride Fest will take place on Sunday 27 May in Greenwich Village, on 4th Avenue between 13th and 9th Streets in Manhattan, NY. More information here.

Pride Parade

Although the Pride Parade is on hiatus for the second year in a row due to the pandemic, it will be held differently through the NYC Pride March 2021 PopUp Experience, where more than 100 businesses will show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Here you can check the map of the location of the shops that will have special Pride decorations and offers.

In addition, you will be able to follow virtually the talks and performances of the groups and organisations that would normally take to the streets for the New York Pride Parade. The programme will be streamed on NYC Pride's Facebook and Youtube accounts on Sunday 27 June from 3 pm ET.

Bud Light and Stella 'down the drain' in LGBT+ protest

New York City's famed LGBT+ Stonewall Inn said it would pour Bud Light and Stella Artois beer down the drain this week to protest corporate donations by the brands' owner to conservative lawmakers who have backed bills targeting transgender rights.

The Greenwich Village bar, considered the birthplace of the US gay rights movement, said it would stop selling all alcoholic drinks made by the Anheuser-Busch brewer during June 25-27's NYC Pride weekend.

According to data from Keep Your Pride, an LGBT+ campaign that monitors corporate donations, Anheuser-Busch has made 48 donations totaling $35,350 since 2015 to 29 lawmakers who have supported conservative bills on trans rights issues.

A spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch, the United States' largest brewer, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation "our company and our brands are focused on making a positive and lasting impact when it comes to issues of equality."

"We're proud of our 22-year partnership with GLAAD ... and we are proud to have received a perfect 100% score from the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ Equality," they said by email, referring to two US-based LGBT+ advocacy groups.

Stonewall Inn co-owner Stacy Lentz said the "pour out" protest would take place on Wednesday.

"You can't turn your logo rainbow on social media, call yourself an ally, and then turn around and make donations that fuel hate," Lentz said in a statement.

"There are really no excuses, and companies like Anheuser-Busch need to own up to what they've done," she added.