Celebrate along with Tony nominee Luke Evans as he joined Trevor Project and Stonewall leaders to light the Empire State Building in rainbow colours for NYC Pride , a vivid, annual show of visibility that matters to LGBTQ+ youth and the wider city.

Essential Takeaways

  • Iconic display: The Empire State Building’s tower lights have marked Pride each year since 1990, creating a bright, familiar skyline signal.
  • Who was there: Luke Evans, Jaymes Black of The Trevor Project, and Stacy Lentz of Stonewall Inn Gives Back led the ceremony, joined by Evans’s dog, Lala.
  • Message: Organisers stressed visibility and support for LGBTQ+ young people , a symbolic light with practical advocacy behind it.
  • Sensory note: The rainbow illumination is bold, high above the city, and visible from many vantage points , a joyful, photogenic moment.
  • How to follow: The building keeps a public lighting calendar so you can plan to spot special colourings across the year.

A bright moment on a New York evening

The first thing you notice in photos is the colour , the Empire State Building wrapped in vivid rainbow bands against a dusky Manhattan sky. Luke Evans, currently earning a Tony nod for his Broadway debut in The Rocky Horror Show, flipped the ceremonial switch with a handful of friends and advocates, giving the landmark its Pride look for the night. According to the Empire State Building’s lighting programme, these tower-light events are both planned and public-facing, designed to mark causes and celebrations for the city and beyond.

Why the lighting matters beyond the pretty picture

Lighting a skyscraper is more than theatre; it’s a message. Jaymes Black of The Trevor Project used the ceremony to underline visibility for LGBTQ+ youth, saying the lights are for young people who need reminders they’re seen and supported. Stacy Lentz and other community leaders framed the moment as both celebration and commitment , Pride is festive, but it’s also a prompt to keep pushing for safety and rights. The symbolism works: a skyline beacon can reach someone who’s far from a parade but close to hope.

The Empire State Building’s lighting tradition and how it’s scheduled

The building’s tower lights have become a civic shorthand , red for a holiday, purple for remembrance, rainbow for Pride , and that system goes back decades. The ESB publishes a calendar for planned lightings, so locals and visitors can know when to look up. If you want to catch an event, check the official schedule; some nights draw crowds and photographers, others are quieter but just as meaningful from a distance.

What Luke Evans’s involvement adds to the story

A star onstage and in photos, Evans brings a theatrical, human face to the ceremony , and yes, his dog Lala made a cameo for the cameras. His quote at the event leaned into unity, calling the moment a positive, unifying signal not just for New York but for the wider world. Celebrity participation can boost reach, helping moments like this cut through social feeds and land in places policy and grassroots organising might not always reach.

How to experience and honour Pride locally

If you’re planning to view the lights, pick a high vantage point or a clear skyline spot early , the colours are best seen at dusk and into the early evening. Share the moment thoughtfully: photos and posts are great, but pairing visibility with action helps, whether that’s donating to youth organisations, volunteering, or supporting local queer venues. Small, practical acts back up the symbolic gestures.

It’s a small show of light that says a lot , and it’s easy to join in, in person or online.

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