Since Moving to Pier 26, NYC Pride Rally Has Grown

Although it has waxed and waned in popularity throughout the decades, New York City Pride has always kicked off festivities with the NYC Pride Rally, a gathering of inspiring speakers, talented performers and eager members of our community.

"The Rally is the voice of NYC Pride's events, and this year's voice is going to be great," said director Bret Gaither. "Our speakers and entertainers represent many facets of our LGBTQ community, and each is making significant contributions towards completing our dreams of visibility, equality and liberation."

A month after the historic Stonewall Riots in June 1969, 500 people peaceably gathered in Washington Square Park to express solidarity and gay Pride with a "Gay Power" demonstration, followed by a candelight vigil in Sheridan Square.

Forty-six years later, the New York City LGBT Pride Rally continues to serve as the official kickoff for Pride Week. This year's Rally will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. on June 26 at Pier 26 in Tribeca, and will feature dozens of well-known speakers and performers and attracts thousands of attendees.

Although NYC Pride continued this proud tradition by hosting the event in various locations throughout the city including Central Park and East River Park, Hudson River Park's Pier 26 has been the spot for this event since 2013, and that's where people will gather again this year. Since its move to Tribeca, the Rally has grown exponentially.

The lineup for this year's NYC Pride Rally include emcee Titus Burgess from Broadway's "The Little Mermaid" and the Netflix hit show, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." He'll bring to stage Pride Grand Marshalls Sirs Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi.

Other performers include "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Adore Delano, "American Boy" singer Steve Grand, and fellow grand marshals J. Christopher Neal and Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera.

Other speakers include NFL veteran and You Can Play Director Wade Davis, plus GLAAD's Tiq Milan and the NYC LGBT Center's Director Glennda Testone. Rounding out the lineup are nightlife denizen Dina Delicious, comic Emma Wilson, motivational speaker Spencer West and Brooke Guinan, the FDNY's first out transgender firefighter.

Organizers most recently announced that the "Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B" Ashanti will be bringing her soulful sounds to the Rally stage for the first time ever at NYC Pride! The artist known for chart-topping hits such as "Rock Wit You," "Foolish" and "Always On Time" will be joining a long list of speakers and entertainers at this free all-ages-welcome event!

Big-name performers often take the stage -- Lady Gaga performed in 2013 (see the video below), and Laverne Cox and Demi Lovato shared the stage in 2014. Local politicians, comedians, and other members of the LGBT community offer both serious and silly takes on Pride themes. For newcomers and longtime Pride celebrants alike, the Pride Kickoff Rally serves as both a party starter and a reminder that it's not all about partying.

"We are not a niche. We are part, a big giant part of humanity. It's time for us to be mainstream," said Gaga in footage broadcast on Livestream, before leading the crowd in rally chants at the 2013 Rally. "I demand the rights! To safe streets!" she said, the audience shouting back at her, "Enough is enough, enough is enough."

Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the Organizer and Producer of New York City's official annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pride events, including the Rally, Family Movie Night, The March, PrideFest, Teaze, VIP Rooftop Party, and Dance on the Pier.

For more information, visit http://www.nycpride.org/events