In what is sure to be one of the most memorable Pride celebrations in New York City’s history, WorldPride 2019 continues to build anticipation as the countdown to June begins.
Keeping the excitement going, NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, has just announced its five Grand Marshals who will lead both the 50th NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30, 2019, and this year’s commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.
The Grand Marshals this year are a stellar mix of some of today’s most influential warriors of change; among them, the cast of POSE, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Gay Liberation Front, The Trevor Project, and Monica Helms.
As Pose returns to TV for its second season in June, the inclusion of three of the program’s breakout stars as WorldPride Grand Marshals is undoubtedly a hometown honor. The hit Ryan Murphy show on the FX Network depicts life and society in New York: the ball culture world, and the street-formed families of at-risk LGBTQ youth. Cast members Dominique Jackson (Elektra), Indya Moore (Angel), and MJ Rodriguez (Blanca) will represent the show.
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MORE ABOUT THE GRAND MARSHALS:
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah is the nucleus of the award-winning celebration and protest that is UK Black Pride. Widely known as Lady Phyll – partly due to her decision to reject an MBE in the New Year’s Honours’ list, to protest Britain’s role in formulating anti-LGBTQ+ penal codes across its empire.
Gay Liberation Front was the very first LGBTQ activist organization formed after the Stonewall Rebellion. The courageous members of GLF fought to give political shape and direction to a whole new generation of LGBTQ militancy that spread with unprecedented vigor and impact across the nation and the world.
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. The organization works to save young lives by providing support through free and confidential programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat. They also run TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth.
Monica Helms is a transgender activist, author, and veteran of the United States Navy, having served on two submarines. She is also the creator of the Transgender Pride Flag, in 1999, and subsequently donated the original flag to the Smithsonian Institution in 2014.
The 50th NYC Pride March will commence at noon, on June 30th, from 26th Street and 5th Avenue. Some 115,000 marchers will proceed south on 5th Avenue before heading west on 8th Street. After crossing over 6th Avenue, the March will continue on Christopher Street, passing the site designated, in 2016 by President Barack Obama, as the Stonewall National Monument. It will then turn north on 7th Avenue, passing the New York City AIDS Memorial, before dispersing in Chelsea just north of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue.
Chris Frederick, Executive Director of NYC Pride, is joyous in the announcement of not only this year’s Grand Marshals but about all the celebrations in their totality. He explains, “As millions of LGBTQIA+ folks from across the world make their pilgrimage to WorldPride 2019 and the commemoration of Stonewall 50, New York City will display its Pride like never before. The entire month of June, and this day, in particular, will be a celebration of everything the LGBTQIA+ community stands for.
h/t: Visit WorldPride.org for more info
