The Cut - How Did Pride Get So Expensive?

Instead of lining up outside a club with a big group of friends, Kevin O’Connell will likely spend Pride weekend in a West Village apartment he can barely afford, enviously watching his peers’ Instagram Stories. After experiencing a string of layoffs and unexpected housing obstacles, the 29-year-old food-service worker and aspiring actor couldn’t pony up the cost of entry for this year’s parties. “I can’t afford these big plans I see everyone doing,” he says. “Honestly, it just makes me feel so lonely to not be able to do any of that.”

At least there are some free community events during NYC Pride, like clusters of outdoor block parties and the parade. O’Connell still hopes to take advantage of those celebrations, though he feels the parade is now “overrun with straight people.” He moved to New York City from Idaho in part for its queer community but feels his financial status has prevented him from fully participating in it. “I do feel looked down upon by other gays because I don’t have the money to do what they’re doing,” O’Connell tells me. “I’m not trying to feel bad about myself, but you do feel cut out from this picture of what gay life during Pride is supposed to be.” 

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