LETTER / CO-CHAIRS
A Letter From
Maryanne Roberto Fine & David Studinski CO-CHAIRS
Heritage of Pride, Inc.
On behalf of the Heritage of Pride board, staff and membership, we welcome you to NYC Pride 2018. This year’s theme, “Defiantly Different,” is most poignant as the LGBTQIA+ community finds itself continuing to fight back against the political climate. It is a responsibility we have not only to fight, but to celebrate ourselves as a way to combat oppression. The theme reminds us of the power of loving ourselves and celebrating who we are. Our events are a beacon of hope for countless souls in the United States and around the world. The freedom to celebrate in our city streets is itself an act of defiance, regardless of the sign you may hold or the banner you may carry.
NYC Pride Guide 2018
A dedicated and talented group of volunteers and staff is producing this year’s events, all while planning for 2019 is well underway. Next year, New York City welcomes WorldPride in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. For nearly a decade, a committed team of volunteers and staff has laid the groundwork for 2019’s season. We have added new experiences, from Family Movie Night to our debut Human Rights Conference. We ramped up talent to support the production of events worthy of carrying the New York City name. And yes, we have altered venues for the March, PrideFest, and Pride
Island, so that 2019’s experience is refined and rehearsed. This year, we introduced a community grant program that provides funds to local LGBTQIA+ organizations to produce events throughout Pride Month. We are honored to partner with such great organizations and look forward to their events’ success this year and beyond. We support more than forty community organizations and plan to give out over $150,000 in needed funds. 10
Our events service a wide community. Demonstrating your pride as you see fit is at the core of what our events do. We provide the canvas and our community paints it. The 2018 Pride season is our WorldPride dress rehearsal and we are eager to see you on stage. Embrace the spotlight and celebrate however you choose. Our individual performances make for a collectively powerful act of Pride. That is defiantly different.