Pride Month wrapped up in New York City with glitter, rainbows — and chaos. What should’ve been a jubilant Sunday night honoring LGBTQ+ legacy ended in sirens and trauma near the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.
The mess began around 10pm in Sheridan Square, a symbolic space for queer resilience, where a teenage squabble between two known groups spiraled into a gunfight. According to police, a 16-year-old girl pulled out a firearm, aimed at a boy she apparently had beef with, and missed — hitting an innocent bystander instead. Moments later, another teen — allegedly connected to the intended target — shot her in the head as the group scattered. The girl is currently in critical condition. Her peer, 17, was also shot in the leg but is said to be stable.
The Stonewall area, normally lit up in rainbow celebration this time of year, was quickly turned into a crime scene. “Saddened to learn about the shooting by the Stonewall Inn tonight as Pride celebrations were winding down,” Mayor Eric Adams posted, voicing the city’s shock. “Incidents like this are devastating.” For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the symbolism of violence erupting at the Stonewall site isn’t just tragic — it’s deeply unnerving.
If that weren’t enough, just two hours earlier, a separate attack erupted in nearby Washington Square Park. Six people were hit with bear spray — yes, bear spray — in a bizarre twist straight out of a dystopian Pride novel. The suspect, 33-year-old Dominic Sabator, told police he felt threatened and preemptively deployed the irritant. He now faces a variety of charges, including assault and illegal possession of a chemical weapon.
For a month meant to be about pride, love, and visibility, this violent finale raises tough questions about security at LGBTQ+ events and the persistent threats queer people face in public spaces. The Pride movement began with resistance against police brutality and marginalization, yet here we are — decades later — still fighting for safety in our own parades.
While authorities continue their investigations, the LGBTQ+ community once again finds itself mourning and mobilizing. Pride is not just a party — it’s a protest, a declaration of joy against a world that too often responds with violence. And nights like these are a reminder of how urgent that protest still is.