Grace Celebrates Pride Month

As celebrations take place across the globe, Grace was able to celebrate Pride together before the end of the school year.
The Festivities began on April 27 with students and faculty advisors in Spectrum, the high school’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, leading their peers through this year’s high school Pride Chapel. The audience was treated to a surprise guest—world-renowned drag queen, Brita Filter. After a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Brita sat with Director of Vocal Music, Andrew Leonard, to answer questions about drag, representation and what pride month symbolizes. Student members of Spectrum shared their own stories and experiences of identity and belonging at Grace, before the Grace Notes closed out the chapel with a performance of Rina Sayayama’s “Chosen Family.” 

Later in the spring, CHANGE (the middle school’s GSA), held their 4th annual Pride Chapel on June 3, featuring the voices of the Middle School Chorus and special guest speaker, Joanna McClintick, reading from her new book, “Twas the Night Before Pride”, which shares the history and global significance of Pride.  

Finally, this year marked the first-ever Lower School Pride Chapel on June 7. GCS Chaplain Reverend Mark Hummel began the service by sharing a few words on the importance of Pride. Early Childhood Dance and Drama Teacher Laurel Lesio led students through the history of the rainbow flag and what it symbolizes, and Dean of Equity and Inclusion Jean-Robert Andre read “Twas the Night Before Pride” to an audience of students and their families. 

Pride Chapels, along with the other history and identity-based chapels and assemblies held throughout the year, help empower Grace students to foster a safe and welcoming place for all, in which the diversity of our school is celebrated and lifted up.
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Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for nearly 800 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.