NEARLY A YEAR FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, NYC & COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS PRIDE CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
NEARLY A YEAR FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, NYC & COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS PRIDE CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER
TWO MONTHS IN JUNE AND JULY
—Heritage of Pride Events to Take Place in Manhattan June 16–24; Other Pride Events to Showcase NYC Pride in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island—
New York City (May 7, 2012)—Nearly a year after the passage of same-sex marriage in New York, NYC & Company is encouraging travel to the five boroughs over a two-month period beginning in June. The City is poised to welcome even more visitors from around the world who can experience firsthand the diversity, excitement and history that comes with New York City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender heritage. From the annual flagship Heritage of Pride events taking place June 16–24 in Manhattan to other celebratory events in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island throughout June and July, the City is brimming with gay pride activity. A full listing of pride events throughout the City can be found at nycgo.com/pride.
“With last year’s passage of same-sex marriage, there’s never been a better time to experience the City’s unique energy and diversity through two months of LGBT celebrations across the entire City,” said George Fertitta, NYC & Company’s CEO. “We invite visitors from around the world to book their travel now to ensure their place in one of the City’s most anticipated events of the year.”
This year, Cyndi Lauper, Chris Salgardo, Phyllis Siegel and Connie Kopelov are on hand as the grand marshals for the Heritage of Pride March on Sunday, June 24. Heritage of Pride, which organizes the flagship LGBT events in New York City to commemorate and celebrate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, will present a weeklong roster of activities in Manhattan to showcase the City as one of the most popular LGBT destinations in the world. In addition, each borough will also sponsor its own LGBT pride celebrations for everyone to enjoy.
Highlights of 2012 NYC Pride activities throughout the City follows:
Manhattan
Heritage of Pride events—with a theme of “Share the Love”—take place from June 16 to 24, including:
The Rally
(Saturday, June 16, 3–6pm at the East River Bandshell at FDR and Houston) will feature well-known performers and motivational speakers from the LGBT community to kick off this year's Pride Week events. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are necessary.
Rapture on the River: A Women's Dance
(Saturday, June 23, 4–11pm, Pier 57 at 15th Street and West Side Highway – Hudson River Park) has decided to supersize this year’s version with an extended edition, adding three hours to the event to create a day-to-night party that won’t disappoint. Tickets go on sale May 1. Event venue is enclosed.
The March
(Sunday, June 24; step-off begins at noon,
starts at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue, ends at Christopher and Greenwich Streets), which began as a civil rights demonstration the year after the Stonewall Riots, is now also a celebration of gay rights as well as recognition of causes, such as the fight against AIDS. For smaller crowds, visitors should watch anywhere from the teens to the 30s on Fifth Avenue, and for larger crowds and high energy, anywhere in the Village is ideal. This event is free and open to the public; no tickets are necessary.
PrideFest
(Sunday, June 24, 11am–7pm, Hudson Street between Abingdon Square and West 14th Street), the annual LGBT street fair, brings together local residents and families, community leaders, area business owners, and visitors for a day of fun and celebration. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are necessary.
Dance on the Pier: Dance 26
(Sunday, June 24, 8pm–2am),
Pier 57 at 15th Street and West Side Highway), featuring the Perry Twins and Boris, will culminate in a fireworks display at 10:30pm. All proceeds from the Dance on the Pier will benefit NYC's LGBT Pride Week events and community organizations. Event venue is enclosed.For more information on the annual Heritage of Pride events, visitor follow Heritage of Pride on Twitter (
) or on Facebook
(
).
Staten Island
Celebrate the annual Staten Island LGBT Parade & Festival on Saturday, June 2, from noon to 5 pm at Tompkinsville Park. Check facebook.com/statenislandparade for more details.
Queens
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Queens Pride at the Queens Pride Parade & Multicultural Festival, on Sunday, June 3, in Jackson Heights. The parade begins at noon, going down 37th Avenue from 84th Street to 75th Street), and will feature special guests, including the cast of Wicked. A festival will take place from 11am to 6pm at 75th Avenue and 37th Road. Check queenspride.org for more details.
Brooklyn
On Saturday, June 9, starting at 9am, celebrate Brooklyn Pride 2012—its “sweet 16th” celebration—at Bartel-Pritchard Circle, 15th Street and Prospect Park West, at Prospect Park. The theme is “Pride Links Us Together.”
Event highlights include:
Pride 5K Fun Run
(registration begins at 8am; run starts at 9am)
Multicultural Festival
(11am–6pm)
Kids Space
(noon–4pm)
Pride Happy Hour – participating restaurants along Fifth Avenue (details to be later announced)
Night Pride Parade
(on Fifth Avenue from 14th Street to Sterling Place; 7:30pm kick-off; the first “Night Time Parade” in the Northeast
For more information on Brooklyn Pride 2012, visit brooklynpride.org.
The Bronx
Bronx Pride Festival is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 21, from noon to 6pm at Crotona Park (Claremont Parkway and Crotona Avenue). The event will also feature a festival that will include entertainment, a health fair, food and memorabilia. For more information, visit bronxpride.org.
For more information on the best of NYC’s LGBT history and offerings, as well as NYC & Company’s “NYC I DO” initiatve to encourage more marriages in the City, visit nycgo.com/gay. To book hotel rooms and access the latest information on events, attractions, dining and theater, go to nycgo.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycgo and follow us on Twitter at @nycgo. Media can follow NYC & Company’s press office at @nycgo_press.
About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For the official source on all there is to see and do in New York City, go to nycgo.com.
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Contact: Chris Heywood/NYC & Company 212 484 1270