NYC WorldPride 2019: top LGBTQ+ events to attend this June

New York City will be the epicenter of global LGBTQ+ celebrations as WorldPride heads to the Big Apple. From celebrations honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising to waving your rainbow flag at the Pride March, an array of NYC WorldPride 2019 festivities are taking place all over the city.

Here are a few events to check out.

A night at the movies

From the queens of Paris Is Burning to the peach enthusiasts of Call Me By Your Name, queer cinema has brought the LGBTQ+ community together. The tradition continues with OutCinema, a small film festival taking place at the SVA Theatre in Chelsea June 17-19 (7-11pm). The event will include screenings, Q&A’s and after-parties. On this year’s marquee will be queer coming of age tale Adam, U.K. ballroom doc Deep in Vogue and fabulous drag chronicle WIG.

For cinema of an all-ages variety, head to Family Movie Night at Hudson River Park’s Pier 45 on June 21 (6:30 -10pm). Kids and their LGBTQ+ parents and role models can enjoy Disney/Pixar’s Día de Muertos romp Coco! – sure, it’s a tear-jerker, but the always hilarious drag hostess Miss Richfield 1981 will have crowds giggling.

LGBTQ+ activism

WorldPride shows its serious side with its Human Rights Conference June 24–25 (9am-5pm). Hosted by New York Law School, the conference will bring together activists, artists, policymakers and educators to shine a light on the challenges facing the global LGBTQ+ community. This year’s keynote dialogue on Black Trans Power will feature the influential voices of Out Magazine executive editor Raquel Willis and writer, producer and part of the creative team of the television show Pose, Janet Mock.

Honoring the Stonewall Uprising

On June 28, 1969, the New York City Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich. Fed up with the harassment, the patrons stood up against homophobic and transphobic policing and fought back. That night led to the modern Gay Liberation Movement.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, The Rally: Stonewall 50 Commemoration (6-9pm) will bring the community together on the corner of Christopher St. and Waverly Place to memorialize the uprising (which occurred in the area) and pay tribute to all who have stood for the community’s rights since.

WorldPride scene

WorldPride 2019 will boast plenty of chances to see and be seen. Feeling super? Head to Pier 40 June 22 (6-10pm) for CosPlay and Pride, where LGBTQ+ people from the ComicCon scene will strut their stuff in costumes from furry fun to anime awesomeness.

Hungry? LGBTQ+ culinarians will get things sizzling at Savor Pride. Foodies flock to sample taste sensations and witness celebrity-chef cooking demonstrations. Proceeds benefit God’s Love We Deliver, which has provided New Yorkers facing medical challenges with necessary nutrition since the AIDS epidemic. The organization’s headquarters at 166 6th Ave. is where to find the flavor.

WorldPride will feature a space for queer youth with Youth Pride on June 29 (noon-6pm) at Central Park Summerstage. There will be entertainment, games and other interactive experiences at the free event. Keep an ear out for music from headliner Ava Max, DJ Nhandi and Deetranada. Angelica Ross and Hailie Sahar (Candy and Lulu from Pose) will also be in attendance.

Get your groove on

Head to The Park for a VIP Rooftop Party on June 29 (2 - 10pm) to enjoy tunes spun by DJs GRIND, Toy Armada, Ben Bakey and Kitty Glitter. Later that night, five of New York’s hottest queer parties (bklyn boihood, TRUUU, Set It Off, Rose Golds and Yellow Jacket Collective) join forces to present mega-party Teaze at The DL. The Park will also play host to Femme Fatale, a female-focused party on June 30 (4pm-midnight).

Can’t-miss moments

WorldPride Opening Ceremony

Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg will get the party started as host of the WorldPride Opening Ceremony at Barclays Center June 26 (7-10pm). Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Kahn and Ciara will also lend their voices to the evening, which will benefit LGBTQ+ charities such as the Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality and SAGE.

Diva celebration

'Music makes the people come together,' Madonna sings. Accordingly, June 23’s #HOWABOUTLOVE concert at Green Room 42 will salute 50 Years of Divas. Broadway-caliber entertainers will pay tribute to the big voices that keep the LGBTQ+ community dancing.

And speaking of Madonna, she’ll be among many who’ll light up the stage at three-day music event Pride Island. Artists such as Brazilian drag sensation Pablo Vittar, Afro-Latina pop star Amara Le Negra, DJ Johnny Dynell and walking work of art Grace Jones will also shake Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 June 29–30.

The grand finale

Pride culminates with several major events on June 30. The March kicks off at noon from 26th Street and 5th Ave. From there, it’ll head south, turn west on 8th St. and pass the Stonewall National Monument on Christopher St. Then, it will head up 7th Ave. past the NYC AIDS Memorial before ending at 23rd St. This is expected to be the biggest pride march ever with six million people projected to hit the streets.

Pridefest (11am-6pm) will serve street fair realness on 4th Ave between Union Square and Astor Place. Stop by for eclectic food, giveaways and mucho rainbow-hued memorabilia.

Bid farewell to Pride on Sunday night with host Margaret Cho at the WorldPride Closing Ceremony in Times Square. Featuring musical performances by Jake Shears (of Scissor Sisters fame), Deborah Cox, MNEK, Melissa Etheridge and the cast of Broadway’s The Prom. This kind of event means stringent security and no restrooms – you've been warned.

These are just the events officially sanctioned by WorldPride. There are a host of other Pride events taking place in New York, so there's definitely something for everyone.

You might also like:

• Gallery of Pride Month celebrations around the world

• South America's best Pride parades

• Where to celebrate Pride in Europe

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