Tag: New York City

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One More Day Until World Pride Opening Ceremony In NYC

Just a day away from the Opening Ceremony of WorldPride in New York City, Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

The event will be formatted as a benefit concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Proceeds from the ticket sales to this historic concert event will support Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality, and SAGE – three leading organizations in the LGBTQIA+ movement based in New York City.

Whoopi Goldberg will host the ceremony, featuring a growing medley of acclaimed speakers and performers.

Cyndi Lauper, iconic performer for the LQBTQIA+ community and New Yorkers alike, leads the initial release of the talent line-up.

Chaka Khan, one of the world’s most gifted and celebrated musicians, will also perform at the WorldPride Opening Ceremony.

Ciara, a Grammy  Award-winning singer/songwriter, producer, model and actress has sold more than 23 million records and 16 million singles worldwide, including chart-topping hits “Goodies,” “Ride,” “Oh,” “1, 2 Step,” “Body Party,” and “I Bet.”

Billy Porter  is a Tony  and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer, and playwright from Pittsburgh, PA. He currently stars as ‘Pray Tell’, in in the FX series “Pose,” for which he has received both a Golden Globe and Critics Choice nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

Todrick Hall is a multi-talented singer, rapper, actor, director, choreographer, and YouTube personality who rose to prominence on American Idol.

The Ali Forney Center is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive agency dedicated to LGBTQ homeless youths—assisting nearly 1,800 young people per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center, which provides over 65,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered-site housing program.

SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older people. Founded in 1978, and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is an organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers.

Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization, representing and advocating for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.

The powers that be have added even more talent to make June 26th an unforgettable evening at the Barclays Center!

Catch Alyssa Edwards, Alaska Thunderfuck, Shangela, Yvie Oddly, and Bob the Drag Queen this Wednesday at our benefit concert supporting Immigration Equality, SAGE, and Ali Forney Center.

Have you purchased your tickets to the WorldPride Opening Ceremony yet? Click here for info.

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World Trade Center Subway Station Reopens In Time For 9/11 Anniversary

A 1 train pulls into the World Trade Center subway station for first time since terror attacks

As the world recognizes the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States, a 1 train has pulled into the subway station located directly underneath the World Trade Center for the first time since the horrific day of terror.

Costing over $158 million, the reconstruction took so long because New York City primarily focused energies on rebuilding above ground where the twin towers had stood.

For years now, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has ferried commuters via bus shuttle to South Ferry instead of Cortlandt Street.

The new station features 1,200 feet of new track and tunnel as well as a white marble mosaic by artist Ann Hamilton that incorporates raised lettering utilizing the text from the Declaration of Independence and the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Titled “CHORUS,” commuters can experience the artwork not only visually but through touch as well.

Additional improvements New Yorkers will appreciate – the subway station is air-conditioned and features digital, state of the art real-time train schedules.

MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota called the moment “a major milestone in the recovery and growth of downtown Manhattan,” telling the Gothamist, “WTC Cortlandt is more than a new subway station. It is symbolic of New Yorkers’ resolve in restoring and substantially improving the entire World Trade Center site.”

Watch the report below from the NYC ABC affiliate.

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New York City: HIV Diagnoses Drop To Historic Low

The New York City Department of Health has released a new study that shows new HIV diagnoses have dropped to the lowest rate in the city’s history.

The report shows that 2,279 people were diagnosed with the virus in 2016, down 8.6% from 2015.

The department first began tracking HIV statistics in 2001 which saw 5,906 new infections.

Researchers credit the decline in great part to the spread of preventative drug PrEP. The drug is available for low or no cost at the city’s eight health clinics.

At the beginning of 2016 only 5% of men having sex with men were using the drug. But by the end of the year, that figure jumped to 30%.

“The technology has landed, and implementation is moving quickly,” Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the Health Department’s Deputy Commissioner for Disease Control, told Jezebel. “Finally we’re seeing that the curve of decline is statistically significant. I think this is a harbinger of really good things to come.”

It’s not all good news though. The report also showed a slight increase in new diagnoses for women, particularly black and Latina women.

Daskalakis told Jezebel, “We’re going to really energize our next campaign to be very, very women focused. We need to better with women, and so we will.”

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NYC: 8 Dead, 11 Injured In Lower Manhattan Terrorist Attack

A new terrorist attack today – this time in Lower Manhattan as a 29-year-old drove a rented truck down a bicycle path killing 8 and injuring at least 11 others.

From The New York Times:

Eight people were killed when a man drove 20 blocks down a bike path beside the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon before he crashed his pickup truck, jumped out with fake guns and was shot by a police officer, the authorities said.

Federal authorities were treating the incident as a terrorist attack and were taking the lead in the investigation, a senior law enforcement official said. Two law enforcement officials said that after the attacker got out of the truck, he was heard yelling, “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference, “Based on information we have at this moment, this was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians.”

Two law enforcement officials said the driver of the truck, a 29-year-old man who came to the United States in 2010, was in grave condition. One official said he had rented the truck in New Jersey.

The motorist, driving south down the path in a Home Depot rental truck, hit numerous people as nearby Stuyvesant High School was letting out for the day, officials said. At least 11 people were injured, but officials were still working to assess the extent of the casualties.

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News Round-Up: June 23, 2017

Weekend bound (via Instagram)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Who’s ready for the weekend? #Yahoooooo!

• Thanks to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the spire of One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit with the colors of the transgender flag for Trans Day of Action today, June 23rd. The same landmarks will be illuminated in the colors of the Pride flag on Saturday and Sunday for NYC Pride celebrations.

• Also for NYC Pride – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared June 22nd officially “Laverne Cox Day” as the actress made an appearance at his official residence, Gracie Mansion.

Said Cox, “Can you believe that a black transgender woman from Mobile, Alabama, raised by a single mother has a day in New York City named after her?”

• July 1st was the date that qualified transgender people were supposed to be able to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, but military heads are asking for a six month delay.

• California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced yesterday that four states are being added to the state-sponsored travel ban because of efforts to enshrine discrimination against LGBTQ people into law.

• Speaking of lights for Pride, the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago was lit up in rainbow colors, apparently in celebration of Chicago Pride this weekend. But the lights only lasted one night, and when asked the hotel responded with, “We’ve been told not to say anything until the PR person puts out a statement.” Of course, as we all know, President Trump ended the tradition of recognizing Pride Month after eight straight years of proclamations from President Obama.

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New York City To Host WorldPride 2019 To Coincide With 50th Anniversary Of Stonewall Riots

Via press release:

NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, today joined with Heritage of Pride, organizers of NYC Pride, to formally announce the two-year countdown to WorldPride 2019.

Set to take place in New York City in June 2019, the global celebration of Pride will coincide with the historic 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots—the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement—making it a year to underscore New York City’s progress and resilience as a global LGBTQ capital.

The announcement was made as New York City’s 2017 Pride celebrations are currently underway this week. A new invitational campaign, titled “One World, One Pride, One New York City – Unite in 2019” launched yesterday in New York City, with additional promotion and activations taking place in Madrid during the upcoming WorldPride celebrations there June 23–July 2.

“As a city with such a rich history of fighting inequality and an unwavering dedication to social progress, we are thrilled to host WorldPride 2019,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I can think of no better time to celebrate the LGBTQ community than on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall—a seminal moment in the struggle for inclusion and human rights that has reverberated across the country for decades.”

Click here for more info on WorldPride 2019 as well as NYC 2017 Pride.

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Podcast: A Tale Of Two Theatrical Adventures

Join me for “A Tale of Two Theatrical Adventures” as two longtime out actors have separate, but euphoric experiences with New York Theater on the same weekend.

I followed both simultaneously on social media as they shared the elation of their personal milestones, and the journeys made my Grinchy heart swell.

Up first, Stephen Blackwell.

As his 50th birthday approached, Stephen made the decision to venture forth on his own to the Big Bad Apple for the first time and see his first productions on the Great White Way.

We all know New York City can be expensive for visiting fans of Broadway. As he recounts his big adventure, Stephen also has tips that helped him save money along the way, including:

• The app TodayTix (and the website version todaytix.com) helped Stephen buy discounted tickets to Broadway shows in advance without standing in lines or worrying about what his choices would be.

• Instead of pricey hotels, Stephen stayed in an apartment blocks from the theater district and saved hundreds using AirBNB. If you haven’t tried the popular travel site, Stephen shares his experience.

• And don’t be afraid to reach out to friends you’ve made on social media. Stephen met up with someone he knew from Facebook, and that friend acted as a guide to what to do after an evening in the theater.

The other gentleman in this dual adventure, Ed Dixon, has enjoyed a long, successful career on Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond. He’s an actor, playwright, composer and author.

After more than four decades of great work, Ed was honored by the Drama Desk Awards for his latest project, Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, on the same weekend Stephen was experiencing NY theater for the first time.

I interviewed Ed weeks before during the aftermath of his grand rave-review opening, but watching him share his big Drama Desk win on Facebook felt like I was there.

You can listen to my previous interview with Ed here.

At a time when it feels there’s so much doom, gloom and grousing on social media, I loved watching these stories play out in front of me in real time on the Book of Face.

Hit play below to listen to the two men’s simultaneous journeys.

Sometimes, it’s great to savor the good times 🙂

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Sculptor Of The “Charging Bull” Angry Over Installation Of The “Fearless Girl”

(photo credit: Anthony Quintano)

Just about everyone is loving the “Fearless Girl” sculpture now on display in lower Manhattan in the Wall Street district.

Well, everyone but the sculptor of the “Charging Bull,” who says the installation of the “Fearless Girl” has changed the meaning of his work, and is a violation of his legal rights.

Via Reuters:

The city’s ruling to let the bronze depiction of a defiant girl remain until February 2018 just feet from the bull’s flaring nostrils should be reviewed, said a lawyer for sculptor Arturo Di Modica.

“How did the process happen and should permits be revoked?” the attorney, Norman Siegel, said in an interview on Wednesday, adding that his client ought to have been consulted.

“He should have been asked, never was,” Siegel said. “There are copyright and trademark infringement issues.”

Di Modica told a news conference he envisioned his statue as a positive symbol, but that the addition of the courageous girl turned his bull into a villain.

“It’s really bad,” Di Modica said, sounding distraught and adding that the bull was loved by people “all over the world.”

The 50-inch (127-cm) girl stands fists on hips on a cobble stone plaza, eye-balling the 11-foot (3.4-meter) bull that has occupied the space in Manhattan’s financial district for nearly three decades.

Siegel said they want the girl sculpture moved and for Di Modica to be awarded damages for the violation of his legal, statutory rights.

Mayor Bill de Blasio responded to the story tweeting, “Men who don’t like women taking up space are exactly why we need the Fearless Girl.”

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Viral: “How New Yorkers Deal With Swastikas On The Subway”

Going viral across social media today. Shared over 256,000 times on Facebook alone.

From Gregory Locke:

I got on the subway in Manhattan on Saturday night, February 4, only to find a Swastika on every advertisement and every window. The train was silent as everyone stared at each other, uncomfortable and unsure what to do.

One guy got up and said, “Hand sanitizer gets rid of Sharpie. We need alcohol.” He found some tissues and got to work.

I’ve never seen so many people simultaneously reach into their bags and pockets looking for tissues and Purell.

Within about two minutes, all the Nazi symbolism was gone.

Nazi symbolism. On a public train. In New York City. In 2017.

“I guess this is Trump’s America,” said one passenger.

No sir, it’s not. Not tonight and not ever. Not as long as stubborn New Yorkers have anything to say about it.

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Hillary Clinton For New York City Mayor?

According to the New York Daily News, Hillary Clinton did not rule out a run for mayor of New York City when asked in recent private conversations.

Current Mayor Bill de Blasio has known and worked with the Clintons for for years, but his initial reluctance to endorse Hillary for president didn’t sit well with her camp.

De Blasio’s term ends at the end of this year, and no high-profile Democrat has weighed in as a challenger.

Personally,  I can’t see her jumping back into a campaign so soon after her second loss in presidential politics.

Plus, she would have to move from her comfortable home in Chappaqua, NY, should she win. State law requires candidates for mayor to live within the five boroughs of the city by Election Day.

She would, however, be breaking one of those famous “glass ceilings.” The Big Apple has thus far never had a female mayor.