The city’s annual Pride March was among the first in the country when it started in 1970. Over 50 years later, the march still celebrates a first.

“We go by the motto, it’s always somebody’s first Pride, right? And when you look at it through that lens, the commitment is how do we optimize that experience for that first-time person? We draw upon our own experience and say, ‘I remember how it felt to go to a march or parade that was specifically dedicated to me,’” said Sandra Perez, the executive director of NYC Pride.

“We get these wonderful stories of people telling us they met their spouses at the march or that they are celebrating their anniversary and that’s how they celebrate their anniversary, so it's really special,” Perez added.

Heritage of Pride, or NYC Pride, as it’s also known, is the nonprofit group that organizes the march and all of the city’s Pride Month events, along with year-round programs to improve the lives of LGBTQ New Yorkers.

NYC Pride works year-round planning the city's Pride celebration. The group does have a small paid staff, but most of NYC Pride is made up of volunteers, thousands of people who devote their time to the organization.

"Without them there would be no Pride," Perez said. "Our volunteers come from all over the country. We have some people who take their week of vacation so they can donate it to be with and to give back to the community. So that’s pretty incredible to me.”

Perez joined the organization three years ago.

“I love doing mission work. The mission of this organization is so compelling, you know, to celebrate, educate and commemorate LGBTQIA+ people and all of their many talents. So that for me was a big draw and I’m also a Native New Yorker. So this is also my chance to give back,” Perez said.

“Having to raise funds from scratch every year is daunting because opinions change, people come and go. But what we have found is that by appealing to our members, appealing to our volunteers, and more than anything, really asking the community to consider how they can give back to others, that's one of the ways that we are kind of fighting against the shortfalls that we experience. You know, we also have some very good corporate partners that have been with us for a long time,” Perez added.

As the march celebrates its 54th anniversary, NYC Pride is celebrating its own anniversary. The group was founded 40 years ago. In 1984, it took over planning from the group that started it all, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee. The committee organized the first Pride March in 1970, a year after the Stonewall Riots sparked what would become the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

“For me, it's about upholding the legacy that was started by other people, recognizing that, you know, we are one small chain, one small link in the chain of history of this community, “ Perez said.

That legacy and history that started with the Stonewall Riots is what Perez said is always on their minds when they plan Pride Month and events like Youth Pride for teens.

"We want them to feel special and included,” Perez said.

As much as the month is a time to celebrate the progress made in the LGBTQ community's fight for equality, including major milestones like the legalization of same sex marriage, it's also a time to recognize that more work needs to be done.

"It's a wonderful to celebrate. We do so because we understand that visibility matters, right? It's not just a party, but this is also an opportunity to say, you know, for all the joy, there is also a lot of pain. There are also young people and families that are under attack who can't access healthcare, books that are being banned,” Perez said.

That’s why the fight continues for NYC Pride. This year's Pride is being celebrated while LGBTQ rights are under attack in many states across the country.

“It is some scary stuff. Most of it is failing and we forget that. But the intent to erase us is very real,” Perez said. "We like to think it's different [in New York], but we have hate crimes here. We still see Black trans women, you know, with the highest mortality rates. So, yeah, there is still a lot of work until all of us are liberated and enjoying equality. There is work to do."

It's work that will likely be carried on by some of those first-time Priders and other young people who join NYC Pride every year.

"This year, in addition to our grand marshals, we are dedicating our float to young people. So we will be pulling young people, young leaders and advocates from throughout the city, and we will be featuring them on the float and really celebrating that next generation of leadership."