On a stormy Sunday in New York City on the final day of June, students in Professor Scott Gratson’s Empowerment of the LGBTQ+ Community through the NYC Pride March: Exploration of a Social Movement rallied and celebrated Pride. It may have rained on their parade, but they savored the experience.

They arrived at 9:45 a.m. to help administer this year’s march. And when the severe thunderstorm hit, Temple guided, assisted and comforted people as New York City and the New York Police Department shut down operations early and urged the crowd to seek safe shelter.

“As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, I have been active in NYC Pride since 2008, and I have never seen Pride canceled,” said Gratson, professor of instruction and director of communication studies. “I’ve never even heard of it happening. There could have been chaos. Instead, Temple students handled everything with grace, class and leadership. I am very proud of them.”

“I normally don’t like being in the rain, but I didn’t feel miserable,” said Alex Cervino, Class of 2026. “I said I’d get soaking wet if I had to. It was an unmatched feeling to be in the middle of the street with people spreading love and energy.”

“I never imagined I’d be able to go somewhere with so many people and see so much love,” added Oliver Economidis, Class of 2026. “When you watch the news, you hear about how our rights are being taken away and on social media you see negative comments. But then you go to Pride and things are a little better than they seem. It’s a change in perspective.”

In addition to marching themselves—waving the Temple flag and leading others in the Temple fight song—students checked in spectators at the grandstand and assisted the ADA stand, which serves people with disabilities. One student also assisted with volunteer dispatch, which was a first for the university. Overall, Temple had the largest volunteer student delegation at NYC Pride.

At NYC Pride, Temple students volunteered at both the grandstand and ADA stand, which serves people with disabilities. (Photo courtesy of Oliver Economidis)

“It’s very easy at an event that draws 2 million to feel like a number and like no one even notices that you’re there,” said Gratson. “The stands are a major hive of activity, and we ensure that every spectator walks away from Pride believing that this event is unique to them. Our job is to be ambassadors, not just for the university, but for the idea of Pride itself. We have a saying at NYC Pride that it’s always somebody’s first. In fact, the overwhelming majority of our students had never been to a Pride event until this one.”

This was the case for Cervino.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Pride, and this felt like a good way to connect to the community and make a difference by volunteering,” he said. “It was important to have my first Pride be meaningful and fun. From the minute I heard about the Pride class, I knew I wanted to take it. I was so excited that I called my mom to tell her about it. When the class began, I immediately felt welcome and comfortable. This experience gave me a sense of community I never felt before.”

Temple’s participation in NYC Pride is the centerpiece of the course. The class began in 2019 when WorldPride was in New York City, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. WorldPride features a series of events spotlighting LGBTQIA+ identities and issues on an international scale and attracts millions from all over the globe. A different city hosts each time.

“So many members within the LGBTQIA+ community never see themselves presented in history,” said Gratson. “We never see any of our heroes. We don’t know what happened to us. And we certainly don’t know how many of us there are. Students find it refreshing to learn about a group that they’re part of. It’s like being invisible and then suddenly having a chance to be visible. The importance of knowing one’s history, identity and community really pushed me to create this course. It fulfills a need that had not yet been met at Temple in any other way.”

In class, students learned important planning and interpersonal skills such as decision-making and conflict management. They also consumed LGBTQIA+ media, including historical films Milk, Paris is Burning and How to Survive a Plague, to understand the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. Additionally, they studied the layout and history of New York City, including the role of movements and marches like this.

“At Temple, we are so proud of how we provide students with unique, real-world educational experiences, and Dr. Scott Gratson’s New York City Pride March course is a great example of that,” said Valerie Harrison, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “This is an experience that our students will remember for their entire lives, and it is also special because it underscores Temple’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Pride is a special time for so many members of the Temple community, and it is refreshing that our students get to play a part in further showcasing this important celebration.” 

Learning about LGBTQIA+ history felt eye-opening for many, especially Economidis.

“Coming from a conservative upbringing, I went into this class knowing virtually no history to being introduced to so much,” they said. “Having a professor like Dr. Gratson who has lived through much of this history is special. He has a unique perspective and anecdotes and has made us feel included in the process of Pride.

“I think students need to learn about LGBTQIA+ history no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. If you don’t know it, you aren’t able to fully understand the legislation and why it’s so painful and aggravating to keep screaming, ‘I’m here. I deserve to have these rights.’”

For the first time this year, the class also prepared for and participated in the Capital Pride Parade in D.C., helping organize the marchers and playing a central role in operations. Students also stood outside of the White House with both Temple insignia and the rainbow flag as a memorial and reminder of the loss and activism of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Temple students planned and marched in the Capital Pride Parade in D.C. as part of the class. (Photo courtesy of Oliver Economidis)

Additionally, the class began planning for WorldPride in D.C., which is slated for May 23–June 8, 2025. Although they aren’t sure of the specifics yet, they’ve been looking at how WorldPride went in NYC in 2019 and how the university was involved.

“The biggest thing with WorldPride is getting people used to the concept of how big and diverse it is,” said Gratson. “Students want to be part of something larger than themselves, and they want an experience in which they feel empowered. There were so many students that said until now they weren’t in a class setting and certainly not at an event where they were not only allowed to be open and tolerated but where their identity really felt empowered. And I think the Pride March and a class like this bring these aspects together.”

Ultimately students are grateful to Klein and Temple for the unique opportunity the class provides. “Being able to take a Temple bus, wear Temple shirts and wave Temple banners all in support of Pride and what it means is really important,” said Cervino. “That’s something you wouldn’t be able to find everywhere.”