[1] Organized to coincide ahead of the NYC Pride March, both demonstrations commemorate the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn, widely considered the pivotal event sparking the gay liberation movement,[2][3][4][5] and the modern fight for LGBTQ rights.

[8] The event starts in Tompkins Square Park and ends in front of the Stonewall Inn; it is purposefully non-corporate, punk, inclusive, and largely leaderless.

[1] Participants were directed to Tompkins Square Park as the starting point, chosen to honor the rebellious spirit of two previous riots that had taken place.

[1] At the Stonewall Inn the entire march joined to sing “(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow,”[12] originally performed by gay icon Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

[12] The 25th anniversary of the first Drag March was let loose June 28, 2019,[15] coinciding with Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC, the largest international LGBTQ event in history.