Pride Month 2026
During PRIDE Month – and throughout the year – our courts across New York State advance a range of programs, events, and learning opportunities that honor the diversity of our LGBTQIA+ communities. These initiatives highlight the rich canvas of perspectives and lived experiences that enhance our workplaces and the comprehensive justice system. Our goal is to foster the most productive spaces for all court employees and every court user who comes through our doors. By uplifting all voices and building deeper human connections we enhance our work to instill fairness, respect, and access to justice for all.
This page highlights some of these events, through narrative and visuals, offering a window into the celebratory and educational programs broadening our horizons across the State.
Join us as we absorb every moment of PRIDE and reaffirm our dedication to belonging, dignity, and equality.
7th JD Joins Major PRIDE Event
July 18, 2026
Rochester, New York
The 7th Judicial District’s Embracing Our Community (EOC) PRIDE Committee, together with representatives from the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission, judges, court staff, and members of the legal community, participated in Rochester’s annual PRIDE Parade and Festival, joining thousands of community members in celebration and advocacy.
The parade, which began in 1989 as a march protesting the high cost of HIV medication, has evolved into one of the largest PRIDE events in the United States. Today, it features more than 178 marching groups and draws over 20,000 participants and spectators to downtown Rochester. Its mission continues to center on empowering LGBTQ+ individuals and allies while firmly condemning discrimination and hate.
This year’s celebration spanned South Avenue and concluded at Highland Park, where festival goers enjoyed live music, entertainment, food vendors, crafts, and offerings from a wide range of community organizations.
For the 7th Judicial District, participation in ROC Pride reflects an ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and community visibility across the district’s courts. Judges and staff marched alongside PRIDE Committee members and Failla Commission representatives, demonstrating unified support for LGBTQ+ communities and highlighting the Unified Court System’s dedication to fostering welcoming and equitable court environments.
Weaving Our Future
July 1, 2026
New York County Supreme Court-Civil Term, Lower Manhattan
The New York County Supreme Court-Civil Term observed Pride Month with “Weaving Our Future: How Trans Leadership Across Government Helps Us All,” a program honoring the advocacy, lived experience, and public service of transgender and gender-nonconforming professionals working across New York’s legal, governmental, and community sectors. Supported by the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission, the event centered on the shared commitment of leaders who are advancing equity, visibility, and access within and beyond the courts.
Speakers reflected a wide range of roles across public service and civil rights enforcement. Taylor Brown, Inaugural Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, discussed her work guiding citywide LGBTQIA+ policy priorities. Brown’s background in the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office includes litigation and investigations addressing discriminatory policing, protections for transgender women and girls, disparities in school discipline, and other civil rights matters.
The program also highlighted voices shaping legislative and community leadership. New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus Executive Director Yanery Cruz shared insights from her work directing legislative, budget, and advocacy priorities, with an emphasis on partnerships that strengthen protections and visibility for LGBTQIA+ communities. Chanel Jessica Lopez, now New York State Deputy Director of LGBTQ Affairs, reflected on more than 15 years of activism, survivor advocacy, public speaking, and community engagement, along with her recognition in documentaries and numerous city and state honors.
Civil rights enforcement and court-focused policy development were central themes as well. Assistant Attorney General Kyle S. Rapiñan described enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws across housing, employment, education, and public accommodations, alongside their work teaching social justice law. Failla Commission Senior Counsel Charlie Arrowood outlined the Commission’s ongoing efforts to increase equity and access for LGBTQ litigants, attorneys, and court employees through education, policy development, and partnerships with advocacy organizations.
Celebrating PRIDE and Inclusion
June 16, 2026
Bronx County Family Court
Bronx County Family Court’s Equal Justice Committee hosted a lively gathering in mid-June in celebration of Pride Month. The afternoon brought together judges and employees from every corner of the Bronx courthouse and beyond for shared learning, reflection, and conversation, creating a warm and welcoming space to deepen understanding of the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and families in the court system.
The program featured guest speaker Rob Conlon, Program Manager for the Statewide Children’s Centers in the Courts, whose presentation, Improving the Court Experience for LGBTQ+ Youth & Families, offered valuable insights into the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals often face when navigating legal processes. Conlon guided attendees through respectful language, best practices, and concrete steps courts can take to ensure dignity and equity for every family served.
The event underscored the importance of ongoing education and open dialogue in supporting LGBTQ+ families. By fostering awareness and centering on the needs of youth, the Bronx County Family Court continues to strengthen its commitment to fairness, respect, and inclusive service.
As the court community celebrates PRIDE Month, this gathering served as a reminder of the vital role each employee plays in cultivating an environment where every person — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or family structure — feels valued and respected. Through continued learning and collaboration, the Bronx County Family Court remains dedicated to building a more inclusive and supportive courthouse for all.
Suffolk County Courts Honor PRIDE With Community Celebration
June 17, 2026
John P. Cohalan Jr. Courthouse, Central Islip
Judges, court staff, and community partners gathered in the Ceremonial Courtroom for Suffolk County Courts’ annual PRIDE Month celebration, a dynamic program that highlighted shared learning, creative expression, and the many contributions of LGBTQ+ communities. Supported by the court’s Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission, the event brought together attendees from across the state, both in person and virtually.
District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca opened the ceremony, welcoming the crowd and reflecting on the year’s theme, Standing Firm Together in Power & Pride, emphasizing unity and collective strength.
The keynote address was delivered by Lambda Legal attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Esq., whose groundbreaking civil rights litigation has shaped national LGBTQ+ protections in marriage, employment, health care, housing, and other essential areas. Following his remarks, Gonzalez-Pagan received special recognition from event cochairs Acting Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley and Support Magistrate Kevin Mulligan.
As part of the day’s celebration, the court unveiled new squares added to its “Quilt of Equality,” a collaborative display created by court employees and filled with messages of acceptance, pride, and hope. The program began with an invocation by the Right Reverend Brother Mark D’Alessio, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist and interfaith spiritual leader, and concluded with a lunch reception in the Central Jury Room.
In addition to the ceremony, the courthouse’s second-floor mezzanine featured an exhibit showcasing artwork by local LGBTQ+ artists Layne Miller and Vicent Messina, along with displays highlighting landmark LGBTQ+ rights cases, several of which involved Gonzalez-Pagan’s advocacy. Earlier in June, the court also hosted a screening of Cured, a documentary exploring the historic effort to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s list of mental illnesses.
Together, these programs offered opportunities for connection, reflection, and deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ history, underscoring Suffolk County Courts’ ongoing commitment to equal justice for all.
A Courthouse Tribute to LGBTQ+ Art and Artists
June 5, 2026
New York County Supreme Court-Criminal Term, Lower Manhattan
The New York County Supreme Court-Criminal Term’s Equal Justice Committee honored LGBTQ+ art’s impact on the community and broader cultural landscape at a lively PRIDE lunch at the Lower Manhattan courthouse, where Administrative Judge Ellen Biben welcomed the many attendees.
Music from LGBTQ+ artists and songs that have become emblematic of LGBTQ+ culture filled the room as guests gathered over tasty fare provided by the Equal Justice Committee, creating a warm and vibrant setting.
Prior to the event, participants were invited to submit works of LGBTQ+ art that had inspired them. These submissions, which included poetry, artwork, and TV shows such as POSE, The L Word, and Orange Is the New Black, were displayed throughout the courtroom for all attendees to enjoy and reflect upon.
The centerpiece of the program was a video presentation created by Principal Court Attorney and Equal Justice Committee member Margot Gendreau. Through curated clips from documentaries and television, the presentation explored the history of LGBTQ+ Ballroom culture — an influential African American and Latin LGBTQ+ subculture that took shape in New York City during the 1970s.
Other presenters included New York Court of Claims Judge and Acting New York County Supreme Court Justice Michele Rodney and New York County Supreme Court-Criminal Term Chief Clerk Christopher DiSanto, Esq.
Serving as a platform for shared learning and connection, the gathering provided an opportunity for members of the court community to deepen their understanding of LGBTQ+ history, engage in meaningful discussion, and recognize the diverse experiences represented within their workplace.
