The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Harlem will present its annual Iconic Pride with an engaging lineup of cultural discussions, spiritual services, and community celebrations open to all.
From inspiring author talks including Brad Gooch on the topic of the iconic American artist Keith Haring and Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad on her new book The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde, to the beloved tradition of Pride Eve, Hosted by the Greedy Peasant and more, the Cathedral’s programming illuminates both the joy and the depth of Pride Month, amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices and stories.
“Pride Month invites us to come together with intention and honor the vibrancy and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. At a time when our community is facing many profound challenges, it is especially important we continue to create spaces filled with joy and camaraderie. The Cathedral welcomes all to take part in our celebrations, whether seeking comfort through spirituality or community, our doors are open,” said the Very Reverend Winnie Varghese, XII Dean of the Harlem Cathedral.
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Tickets will be available beginning Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. More information can be found here.
Highlights of special events and Pride programming include:
- Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch (Friday, May 15) – Join author Brad Gooch at 6:30 p.m. as he discusses his 2024 biography of the iconic American artist Keith Haring with the Very Reverend Winnie Varghese. This talk will take place in the Chapel of Saint Columba, home of the Life of Christ (1990), a bronze and white-gold triptych altarpiece, Haring’s final work. Tickets are free with reservation.
- The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde byDr. Rima Vesely-Flad (Sunday, May 24) – Join the Cathedral for a conversation at 1 p.m. between the Very Reverend Winnie Varghese and Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad followed by a book signing at 2 p.m. Dr. Vesely-Flad’s new book The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde engages the voices of these two renowned Black, queer thinkers/writers in discourse with Buddhist teachings and practices. It is also both part memoir, as Dr. Vesely-Flad describes the emotional process of connecting with her Black family roots, and part expressly political within a dharma context. Tickets are free with reservation.
- Pride Eve, Hosted by the Greedy Peasant (Saturday, May 30) – Pride Eve 2026 returns a day early and better than ever with expanded offerings, including an evening of crafts, color, and pageantry. The night will begin with cocktail hour at 6 p.m., inviting visitors to tour the Cathedral, mingle, and visit different craft stations, as well as enter a raffle to win a variety of prizes. Returning for the third year after two consecutive sold-out shows, the Greedy Peasant will then take to the stage for a 45-minute performance culminating in the illumination of the Cathedral in its annual rainbow lights. All are welcome for this special occasion, with monochromatic fanciful dress encouraged. The suggested colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink. Tassels also implied. Tickets range from $45 to $100 and all proceeds go to keeping all other Iconic Pride events free for all.
- Pride Family Picnic (Saturday, June 6) – From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cathedral Gardens will be open for all to enjoy. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic, play yard games, and spend an afternoon in community. The Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band will perform at 12 p.m. Following the performance, there will be a musical instrument petting zoo for a hands-on introduction to a variety of instruments. Tickets are free with reservation.
- Pride Evensong (Sunday, June 21) – The Cathedral will host an Evensong service at 4 p.m. featuring LGBTQIA+ composers and performance by the Cathedral Community Choir. All are welcome to sing or just to listen. No tickets are necessary.
- Celebration of Pauli Murray (Wednesday, July 1) – In collaboration with the American LGBTQ+ Museum, join the Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. in celebration of Pauli Murray on their Feast Day, July 1st. Dean Winnie Varghese will be in discussion with Pauli Murray scholar and Associate Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, Sarah Azaransky; Canon Theologian, The Reverend Canon Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas; and Associate Professor of History at Antioch College, Kevin McGruder. Tickets are free with reservation.
The Cathedral
Founded in 1892 and one of the largest cathedrals in the world, the trustees of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine conceived its mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light and leading in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Today, as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of its bishop, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Harlem serves the many diverse people of our diocese, city, nation and world through the worship of God; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; cultural and civic events; international ecumenical initiatives; and the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.
For more information, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.
Photo credit: The Cathedral in Harlem.
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