Pride Month closed on a bright note in New York City as Tony Award nominee Luke Evans helped illuminate the Empire State Building in the colors of the Inclusive Pride Flag during a special ceremony celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride.
The Welsh actor joined leaders from The Trevor Project and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative on Sunday evening to flip the switch that bathed one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks in rainbow colors. The annual lighting honors Pride while recognizing the ongoing fight for equality and support for LGBTQ+ communities.
Evans, who is currently starring as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54, was accompanied by Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, Stacy Lentz, CEO and co-founder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, and his dog, Lala, during the celebration.
A Pride Tradition That Continues to Shine
The Empire State Building has marked LGBTQ+ Pride with special tower lights every year since 1990, when advocates successfully campaigned for the landmark to recognize the community. More than three decades later, the annual display remains one of New York City’s most visible Pride traditions.
This year’s lighting partnered with The Trevor Project and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, connecting the celebration to organizations working year-round to support LGBTQ+ people.
After the ceremony, Evans visited the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck Experience before taking photos from the iconic 86th-floor observatory overlooking Manhattan.
Luke Evans Reflects on Pride
Speaking during the ceremony, Evans emphasized the importance of visibility and acceptance.
“It’s about humanity coming together and allowing us all to live a happy, free, joyful life. The Empire State Building — this iconic New York landmark — celebrating Pride sends such a positive, unifying message, not just to New York, but to the world.”
The actor has remained a visible advocate for LGBTQ+ representation throughout his career. His appearance at the lighting ceremony comes during a standout year professionally, with his Broadway debut earning him a Tony Award nomination.
A Message for LGBTQ+ Young People
The ceremony also highlighted the mission of The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.
Addressing the significance of the moment, CEO Jaymes Black spoke directly to LGBTQ+ youth watching from New York and beyond.
“We are sending a clear message to all LGBTQ+ young people: that there is a community showing up for them. That there are people fighting for them. That we will not rest until you know — not just that you are loved — but that your dreams, all of them, are fully yours to claim.”
Black continued by connecting the symbolic lighting to the organization’s daily work.
“At The Trevor Project, we hear every day from LGBTQ+ young people who need that reminder. While there is still work to do, today is a celebration of how far our movement has come, and a commitment to keep pushing forward together. To every LGBTQ+ young person who sees this skyline tonight: this light is for you. We see you, we believe in you, and the world is brighter because you are in it.”
Pride’s Historic Connection to New York
The lighting ceremony also served as a reminder of New York City’s central role in LGBTQ+ history. Pride celebrations commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, widely recognized as the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Today, NYC Pride remains one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations, drawing millions of visitors while honoring the activists who helped shape the movement.
Organizations like the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative continue that legacy by supporting grassroots LGBTQ+ nonprofits, while The Trevor Project focuses on crisis services, advocacy and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people across the United States.
A Symbol That Reaches Beyond the Skyline
The Empire State Building changes its tower colors throughout the year to recognize major causes, holidays and cultural milestones, but its annual Pride display carries particular significance.
Visible across much of New York City, the illuminated tower has become a familiar symbol each June, reflecting both celebration and resilience. For Evans, the evening underscored the power of visibility at a time when many LGBTQ+ people continue advocating for acceptance and equal rights.
As rainbow lights stretched across the Manhattan skyline, the ceremony offered more than a colorful photo opportunity. It served as a reminder that Pride is both a celebration of progress and a commitment to supporting future generations of LGBTQ+ people.