NEW YORK, NY, JANUARY 15, 2019 – NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 andStonewall 50, is thrilled to announce further details about NYC Pride’s WorldPride Closing Ceremony. All are welcome to this final celebration of Pride on Sunday, June 30th from 7 – 10pm in NYC’s iconic Times Square.

The evening will provide a full slate of influential speakers and global musical talents who represent the cultural diversity, tenacity, and grace of the LGBTQIA+ community. One of the renowned artists slated to perform is Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter, Melissa Etheridge.

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. On October 7, Melissa Etheridge released Memphis Rock & Soul, her first album since 2014’s critically lauded This Is M.E. Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, the album has received stellar reviews. Etheridge is also featured on the cover of the Holiday 2018 NYC Pride Guide: WorldPride Preview.

“I am thrilled to perform at the WorldPride Closing Ceremony while commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising,” said Etheridge. “That night, Times Square will serve as a home to a multitude of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies on a truly momentous evening of love, pride, and community – capping what I’m sure will be an extraordinary month of celebrations.”

As is tradition with other cities that have hosted WorldPride, a closing ceremony indicates the conclusion of the Pride celebration and a proverbial “passing of the torch” to the next host city.

“Over 4 million people will descend upon New York City for the largest LGBTQIA+ gathering in our history,” said Chris Frederick, NYC Pride’s Managing Director. “We look forward to closing out WorldPride in celebration and in commemoration of our storied history and our invaluable collected experiences as a community.”

The official lineup for the WorldPride Closing Ceremony will be announced in February.

WorldPride 2019 and Stonewall 50 will be comprised of more than 25 different events for LGBTQIA+ and allied people of all ages, during the full month of June. Throughout the course of the celebration, all WorldPride events will ladder up to the foundational theme, “Millions of Moments of Pride.” Join New York City, and the world, this June as we honor the past, celebrate our differences and march together for our future. For more information, visit: www.worldpride.org.

Media Contacts:
Cathy Renna | Media Consultant
cathy@targetcue.com | (917) 757-6123

James Fallarino | Media Director
james@nycpride.org

Eboni Munn | Communications Manager
eboni@nycpride.org | (212) 807-6424

ABOUT HERITAGE OF PRIDEHeritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events. Heritage of Pride’s mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate and celebrate our diverse community.