North Texas activist DeeJay Johannessen, president and CEO of the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health, has been invited by New York City Pride to participate as a special guest in the 2026 NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 28. HELP Center announced the invitation earlier today (Tuesday, June 23).
Johannessen was invited in recognition of his leadership during the events surrounding the cancellation of Arlington Pride 2026 and the HELP Center’s advocacy for ensuring communities remain welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all residents and visitors, according to a press release announcing the invitation.
New York City Pride is recognizing Pride organizations whose celebrations were cancelled this year with the theme “For All of Us,” the press releases noted, explaining that while “most Pride event cancellations resulted from financial challenges, Arlington Pride was unique in that it was cancelled after changes to local civil rights protections created an environment the HELP Center concluded was inconsistent with its responsibility to safely welcome attendees, particularly those traveling from outside the region.”
“Our responsibility has always been to the people we serve and our community,” Johannessen said about the decision to cancel the Arlington event for 2026. “When Arlington Pride was cancelled, it was never about making a political statement. It was about fulfilling our obligation to ensure that all attendees were safe, welcomed, and protected.
“While cancelling the event was heartbreaking, it was the only responsible course of action,” he added.
As part of the recognition, Johannessen and his husband will ride on the official New York City Pride parade float alongside other invited guests representing communities where Pride celebrations have been cancelled. “National news organizations are covering the growing prevalence and impact of Pride event cancellations resulting from corporate sponsorship pullbacks and political challenges,” according to the press release.
Johannessen said the NYC Pride invitation reflects not only the challenges Arlington experienced but also the resilience demonstrated by its residents.
“Being recognized by New York City Pride is an incredible honor because it demonstrates that Arlington’s story resonates far beyond our community,” he said. “While our city experienced difficult times this past year, Arlington voters made it clear they want a community where every resident feels welcomed, respected and valued. That’s the story I’m proud to share with a national audience.”
The HELP Center is in discussions for Arlington Pride to return in 2027 following election results that reflected broad community support for inclusive leadership and a renewed commitment to ensuring every resident knows that discrimination will not be tolerated in Arlington.
“Arlington’s story is no longer defined by the cancellation of Pride,” Johannessen said. “It’s becoming a story of a community choosing unity, moving forward together, and building a city where everyone knows they belong. We look forward to celebrating that future when Arlington Pride returns in 2027.”
— Tammye Nash
