As a communication studies major, Colt Gunn took CMST 4628: Empowerment of the LGBTQ+ Community Through the NYC Pride March: Exploration of a Social Movement (affectionately known as the “Pride class”) as part of his major. At the end of the course, he was able to land a social media internship with the organization that would last throughout the summer.  

During the spring semester of 2025 I joined a class called CMST 4628: Empowerment of the LGBTQ+ Community Through the NYC Pride March: Exploration of a Social Movement taught by Scott Gratson, chair of communication studies at Klein College of Media and Communication. This course was focused on the history of the LGBTQ+ community and included active participation in the annual NYC Pride March. During the course, I was able to meet the media coordinator for the organization, Hunter T. Simmons. After weeks of communication and help organizing volunteers I was offered an internship as a media coordinator.  

My work began in summer 2025 with an internship in New York City with Heritage of Pride. I had the opportunity to design graphics for use on social media for promoting events and edit videos for queer creators. My first on-site job was at Washington Square Park, working with Hunter and Lukas Thimm, a host who was hired that day to interview New Yorkers. We met people from all walks of life, which is typical in New York City. This helped us gain insight into a wide range of beliefs regarding the queer community.  

The day of the march, I rode into New York with the rest of my classmates from the Pride course. A part of our grade was to volunteer, but my job was different as I was a part of the media team. 

I expected to take video and photos during the events by myself, but that quickly changed when Hunter called me up to say that the lead videographer canceled at the last second. I didn’t feel ready, but in that moment I made myself ready and became the head videographer for the NYC Pride March.

I was first rushed over to the start of the parade and started interviewing the grand marshals. These are individuals hand selected by NYC Pride to act as ambassadors for the LGBTQ+ community—the stars of the march with the biggest platforms.  

From there, I joined the march and captured the event with photos and video. I eventually ended up at the end of the parade with one last job of interviewing talent. These are the artists, dancers and performers. There, I was able to capture the most content that was featured throughout NYC Pride’s social media. 

I ended the day feeling accomplished but also incredibly tired. It was a day I will not soon forget, and one that made me want to pursue a career in media from that point on.  

It didn’t end there though, as it was still a few more months until my internship was finished. Before I left, I received an email from NYC Pride that I have been given a volunteer of the year award for 2025, the “Media Committee Award” for my efforts. I was able to go up to Brooklyn to receive the recognition and was honored for the day. I was told the content we produced at the Pride March reached 2 million viewers! 

My work with this organization has opened up so many doors for me, and I am completely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it all. I was never expecting to enjoy content creation and using social media, but I fell in love. I can look back at this internship as the foundation for my future career pursuits. I realized my comfort is behind the camera and what I want to do after college.