LGBTQ+ teens find community at Industry City

Brooklyn Pride’s youth-centered event celebrated its fifth year on June 20, 2026, at Industry City.

The event, directed by Cam Moore, was created in 2021 to give young people their own space during Brooklyn Pride where they could be celebrated and feel safe enough to be themselves.

“This is not a space I ever had growing up as a queer person,” Moore explained. “And we need to make sure our teens survive.”

The event, which originally took place in Park Slope before moving to Industry City last year, is intended for young people ages 11 to 19. Activities included games, face painting, an open closet where attendees could get as dressed up as they liked, and a variety of performances by both adult artists and some of the youths themselves.

Food, drinks, and snacks were available throughout the event, while DJ Trini provided music and performer Lailah Lancing served as host.

“They call me a host and an MC, but I call myself a facilitator,” said the enigmatic Lancing, who changed outfits countless times throughout the event and conducted a fashion show for the attendees. “I am here to spotlight everyone else.”

Lancing has been a part of Brooklyn Pride for 10 years and has been with Youth Pride since its inception.

“I said yes in a heartbeat. I always say if things like this existed when I was a kid, the world would be a very different place right now.” Her favorite part, she said, is seeing the kids be able to be “exactly who they are … and live in their authenticity.”

Moore explained that attendance has increased each year and that, while parental accompaniment is not required, many parents join their children for the festivities. Brooklyn couple Molly Peters and Jason Wiener were happy to see their daughter find friends in a real-life space rather than through online communities and talked about how important that support is for her.

“People will still call you a [slur] in school, and no one is doing it here,” Wiener said. “And we’re like, ‘See, you don’t have to listen to the idiots. Listen to your friends.’”

Youth Pride is not only for young people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, but also for allies who want to show their support. Among the organizations represented at the event was PFLAG NYC, the founding chapter of PFLAG, a national organization that supports LGBTQ+ people and their families. It was one of the many vendors visited by parent attendee Jaime Blair.

Jaime and her daughter, 12-year-old Penelope, attended for the first time this year. “I’m not new to this, I’m true to this,” Jaime said.

She explained that when she was younger, her sibling came out and experienced a lack of support from their parents. As a result, Jaime promised herself that she would support any children she had in the future.

“When my mom told me about the event, I felt excited,” Penelope said. “Because it’s Youth Pride, and you don’t see too many pride [events] for youths.”

Another first-time attendee was Naya Bahailu, who was also one of the performers. “It’s really fun seeing a bunch of kids who are like me gather in one spot,” said 14-year-old Bahailu. She will be attending LaGuardia High School this fall and said she plans on returning to the event next year.

No matter their gender or sexual orientation, most kids share one affinity. When asked what her favorite part of the event was, Penelope answered quickly.

“The cotton candy!” she said with a huge smile.