2026 NYC Pride Guide - Magazine - Page 17
If you have ever heard, “Please stand away from the platform edge,”
on the NYC subway, you are already familiar with the work of the
inimitable Bernie Wagenblast. A former radio personality and one of
the most recognizable voices in our transit system, Bernie’s impact
stretches far beyond her voiceover work. Socially transitioning in her
60s, she is a powerful example of the importance of living authentically - no matter where you are in your journey. Wagenblast said:
“Visibility comes in many forms. In my case, it’s by being a voice New
Yorkers, and visitors to New York, hear in their daily travels. I hope
it serves as a reminder that trans folks are part of everyday life and
that it encourages others in their journeys toward authenticity.”
MARCHING CONTINGENT: SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers,
DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members work together to
secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond. sagaftra.org
JOURNALIST. ACTIVIST. NARRATOR.
Reflect on your personal
connection to the 2026 NYC
Pride theme, “For All of Us”, a
direct reference to the famous
Marsha P. Johnson quote,
“There’s no pride for some of
us without liberation for all of
us” - what does that mean to
you, and why do you think it
resonates right now.
I think when Marsha uttered
that famous quote, she was
thinking primarily about all
members of the LGBTQ+
community. Today, when we
see states passing laws that
harm the LGBTQ+ family, I
think it’s also important to
think “For All of Us” also
means everyone wherever
they may be located. The
rights we enjoy in places
such as New York and New
Jersey are not the same as
those who live in states like
Florida, Texas and Kansas.
On a personal note, I smile
when I’m reminded that
Marsha and I were both born
in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She
was just 11 years old and living about a mile from where
I was born.
Those who oppose us will try
to divide us. Our best opportunity to win and protect
our all our rights is to work
together. A loss of rights for
any of us, is a loss for all of
us.
As we look to build a future
“for all of us”, why is it
important that we look to our
history?
To you, what does liberation
look like “for all of us”?
In simplest terms, I see it as
all of us enjoying the same
We can learn much from our
rights as everyone else.
history, both the good and
We’ve already seen that
the bad. What happened
some rights have been takwhen we stood together and
en away and there are those
what did we lose when we
who want to have us disapwere not united. As a group,
pear. We have been here for
the LGBTQ+ community is a
all of history and we will not
minority and the “T” part of
go away.
that family is an even smaller
number.
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