World Pride set for New York’s 50th Stonewall anniversary

New York City has been selected to host WorldPride 2019 alongside celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising.

This will be the first time that WorldPride, a global LGBT Pride event, will take place in the United States, said NYC Pride, producers of the city’s LGBT Pride events.

Previous host cities have included Rome, Jerusalem, London, and Toronto, while Madrid will host the next WorldPride in 2017.

NYC Pride’s bid was accepted during the Annual General Meeting of InterPride in Las Vegas this past weekend. InterPride is the international organisation of LGBT Pride organisers.

“The Stonewall Uprising is considered the most significant event that ignited the modern LGBT rights movement, so it makes perfect sense to bring WorldPride to the birthplace of Pride in 2019,” said David Schneider, NYC Pride’s Stonewall 50 Director

“We are so grateful that our fellow Pride organisers from across the globe have chosen New York City for this momentous occasion,” he added.

The theme of Stonewall 50/WorldPride 2019 is “Millions of Moments of Pride,” and will feature an expanded two month series of events and programs alongside NYC Pride’s historic march, rally, PrideFest, and legendary dances for men and women.

While NYC Pride draws millions to the city each June, Stonewall 50/WorldPride 2019 is anticipated to be one of the largest LGBT events ever to occur.

The 1969 Stonewall riots saw gay, lesbian, drag and transgender patrons of New York City’s Stonewall Inn bar rising up against homophobic police officers.

The incident is recognised as the start of a concerted global LGBTI rights movement and inspired the world’s first Pride marches the following year in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago – all on the same weekend (27-28 June, 1970).