June 12, 2019
Pride Month 2019 Celebrations—in NoMad and Beyond
Fifty years ago this month, on June 28-29, 1969, an uprising began at the now-famous Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, in protest of a police raid. That cataclysmic event prompted the beginnings of the gay liberation movement, in the United States and around the globe. In June 1970, the first Pride March was held in New York to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The tradition continues, and the annual pride parades now occurring worldwide each June serve to celebrate the advances the LGBTQIA+ community has seen in the past 50 years, and remind the world of all that remains to be done in the name of complete equality.
On June 30, 2019—fifty years almost to the day of the Stonewall Riots—New York City will host what is expected to be the largest pride parade celebration on record. The NYC Pride March is slated to begin on NoMad’s doorstep, at the northwest corner of Madison Square Park. This year’s parade grand marshals includes the Gay Liberation Front, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, the Trevor Project, transgender activist Monica Helms and the cast of dance musical POSE. The parade steps off at noon.
The NYC Pride March is actually just the cap of a month-long schedule of events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community here in New York, including several in the NoMad neighborhood. A full listing of events is available at the WorldPride website, but here are a few highlights of the celebrations being held right here in NoMad.
Love & Lipliner at The James Hotel
June 13 at 7:00 p.m.
The James New York-NoMad Hotel is pulling out all the stops to celebrate Pride Month with special WorldPride package stays and the month-long ICONS exhibit. The ICONS exhibit, presented in partnership with the Stonewall Community Foundation, will feature both people who continue to inspire the LBGTQIA+ movement today, as well as sites of historical significance to the community. The exhibit’s six themes of activism, arts, literature, fashion, nightlife and pop culture share the common thread of being deeply connected to New York City as a center of LBGTQIA+ influence. The exhibit is public, and can be enjoyed all month.
On June 13, however, The James is hosting Love & Lipliner, an event that will celebrate the history of drag with a star-studded celebration featuring New York City queens Jan Sport, Lagoona Bloo, Jasmine Rice, Rosé, Kizha Carr, Brita Filter and others. This party celebrating transgender culture will feature food, raffle giveaways, special performances, and mini-drag makeover tutorials while educating guests on the historic significance of drag to the LGBTQIA+ community. Six select guests will even receive full drag makeovers. Tickets range from $25-$225, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Stonewall Community Foundation.
The James New York – NoMad
22 East 29th Street
New York, NY 10016
Love & Lipliner
Thu, June 13, 2019
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Drag Brunch at Oscar Wilde with Jasmine Rice Labeija
Saturdays and Sundays in June
Every weekend in June will be a time of celebration at Oscar Wilde in NoMad. The bar, named after one of the world’s most colorful gay figures will be holding Drag Brunches every weekend this month, so come out any Saturday or Sunday (or both) to enjoy a delicious meal in this special local spot and performances by renowned New York drag queen Jasmine Rice Labeija. Reserved seats are $25 each and include your brunch entrée and a free drink—or you can pay $40 for a 90-minute “free-flow” of drinks. Performances begin at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Reserve your seating on the website.
45 West 27th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 213-3066
Drag Brunch at Oscar Wilde feat. Jasmine Rice Labeija
Saturdays and Sundays through June, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Shows at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Other Can’t-Miss Pride Events
Of course, Pride celebrations are happening all over NYC, not just in NoMad. For the full experience, we recommend checking out the following important events, as well:
Whoopi Goldberg Hosts Opening of WorldPride 2019 with Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan and more
Wed., June 26, 7:00 p.m., Barclay’s Center, Brooklyn
Join host Whoopi Goldberg and guests Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Todrick Hall, Ciara, DJ Lina Bradford, Billy Porter and Daya for the official kickoff of the WorldPride 2019/Stonewall 50 celebration. Tickets currently start at around $45 and are available through TicketMaster.
Rally: Stonewall 50 Commemoration
Fri. June 28, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Christopher Street and Waverly Place
Come back to where it all began! This free outdoor rally takes place outside the original Stonewall Inn where the original uprising took place 50 years ago.
WorldPride Closing Ceremony
Sun., June 30, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Times Square
At the conclusion of the Pride Parade, make plans to come out to Times Square for the official closing ceremony and celebration. Hosted by Margaret Cho, this event will feature performances by Melissa Etheridge, MNEK, Jake Shears, Deborah Cox and the cast of Tony-nominated musical The Prom. This event is free, but advance registration is required. Entry to Times Square begins at 5:00 p.m.
There’s no better place to celebrate Pride Month than in New York City where it began—and the NoMad neighborhood is right in the heart of it. Be sure to come out to Madison Square Park on June 30 to watch the start of the NYC Pride Parade. We are proud to celebrate the colorful and diverse LBGTQIA+ community, and to be a part of the continuing movement for equality.