Shining bright, Luke Evans joined Trevor Project and Stonewall Inn Gives Back to bathe the Empire State Building in Inclusive Pride colours , a high-profile, hopeful moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in New York City and beyond. The lighting tied a landmark tradition to suicide-prevention work and grassroots support.

  • Who showed up: Luke Evans, Jaymes Black of The Trevor Project, and Stacy Lentz of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative flipped the switch on 26 June.
  • What it looked like: The tower glowed in the Inclusive Pride palette, vivid across the Manhattan skyline , a striking, celebratory sight.
  • Why it matters: The lighting linked a popular Pride ritual to real-world support for LGBTQ+ young people and community charities.
  • How it felt: Joyful and solemn at once , festive colours with a clear message of safety and solidarity.
  • Practical note: The Empire State Building has used tower lights to mark causes since 1990, so this display continues a long public tradition.

A headline-grabbing switch for Pride , vivid and visible

The opening image was cinematic: a famous Welsh actor pressing the button as rainbow lights spilled over a beloved skyline, and Lala, his dog, looking on. It’s the sort of visual that grabs attention and gets people talking, and that visibility is exactly the point. According to the building’s team, the lighting used the Inclusive Pride palette to represent a broad cross-section of the community. For anyone watching from across Manhattan, the message read simple and loud , Pride is here, and you’re seen.

The Empire State Building’s seasonal tower lights have become shorthand for civic recognition, and pairing the display with organisations that do hands-on work adds weight beyond the photo op. If you’re planning to catch the lights next June, aim for a clear evening and an elevated spot; the colours read best from a distance where the whole tower is visible.

From Stonewall to Studio 54: history meets the present

New York’s Pride roots run deep, and this ceremony neatly tied past to present. The Stonewall uprising in 1969 is the touchstone for modern Pride, and initiatives like Stonewall Inn Gives Back keep that activist spirit alive by funding grassroots projects. Meanwhile Luke Evans, currently on Broadway in a Tony-nominated role, brought star wattage to the event , a reminder that culture and activism often move hand in hand.

That mix of legacy and current cultural clout helps make Pride both a remembrance and a living movement. If you care about the roots, seek out events that foreground education and fundraising as well as celebration.

The Trevor Project link: lighting with a mission

This year’s partner, The Trevor Project, uses crisis intervention and suicide-prevention services to support LGBTQ+ young people. CEO Jaymes Black used the occasion to speak directly to youth watching across the city and online, stressing that the symbolic light reflects ongoing work to keep young people safe and supported. Symbolism matters, but pairing it with practical services makes the gesture more than a one-night spectacle.

If you’re moved by the lighting, consider supporting organisations that provide year-round help , donations, volunteer time, or simply amplifying resources can make a concrete difference.

Why the Inclusive Pride flag matters on a landmark

The Inclusive Pride flag used here extends the traditional rainbow to explicitly represent trans, queer people of colour, and marginalised groups within the community. That visual choice signals a more expansive, intersectional message and shows how Pride symbols evolve as conversations progress. For many viewers, seeing those additional stripes on such a high-profile canvas felt like recognition and a step toward fuller inclusion.

When looking at Pride merchandise or supporting events, spot the flag variations , they often tell you which communities an event or campaign is trying to foreground.

What to take away , small moments, bigger impact

The Empire State Building has been lighting up for causes since 1990, and this ceremony kept that custom relevant by linking it to organisations doing frontline work. Luke Evans’ appearance added celebrity attention, but the lasting story is the partnership with groups that support LGBTQ+ youth and grassroots activism. It’s a reminder that public celebration and sustained advocacy can, and should, go together.

If you missed the live moment, photos from the 86th-floor observation deck and official social channels captured the spectacle , and the sentiment , well.

It's a small, bright ritual with real-world consequences: visibility paired with support can help turn a skyline gesture into ongoing change.

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