Must-See Arts and Culture Events at NYC Pride 2019: Celebrating Stonewall's 50th
Amid the electrifying parties, iconic figures, and joyful festivities of NYC Pride, discover exclusive arts and cultural events that embody New York’s vibrant spirit. Many draw inspiration from the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, commemorated citywide. Here are five exceptional highlights.
OutCinema
Courtesy of SVA Theater
This year’s OutCinema kicks off on June 17 with Adam, a compelling coming-of-age story directed by Rhys Ernst of Transparent, which premiered to acclaim at Sundance. Follow an awkward high schooler navigating a summer in Brooklyn’s activist queer community, sparking comic mishaps and insights into gender, identity, and acceptance. On June 18, Deep in Vogue dives into Manchester, UK’s ball scene, spotlighting rival houses echoing 1980s New York. June 19 features Wig, produced by Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, chronicling Wigstock’s origins—from Lady Bunny’s 1984 Tompkins Square Park show to its revival. Join the post-screening Q&A with Lady Bunny for insider stories.
Mapplethorpe at the Guggenheim
Robert Mapplethorpe, "Phillip Prioleau, 1982." Gelatin silver print, 38.4x 38.9cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Gift.
© Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission.
Thirty years after Robert Mapplethorpe’s passing, his provocative photography remains profoundly relevant. Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, on view through July 10, launches the Guggenheim’s year-long tribute. Curated from the foundation’s donated archive, over 80 works span early Polaroids, floral studies, nudes, S&M imagery, portraits of friends like Andy Warhol, and intimate self-portraits.
Stonewall Commemorations
Courtesy of The New York Public Library / Stonewall Exhibition
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, NYC hosts insightful events providing historical context and dialogue. Key highlights include:
At Greenwich Village’s historic site, the official rally reenacts the uprising on June 28 from 6:00-9:00PM at Christopher Street and Waverly Place. Free and open to all, it underscores the ongoing fight for rights.
Uptown at the New-York Historical Society (Central Park West at 77th St.), Stonewall 50 showcases nightlife pre- and post-Stonewall, lesbians’ pivotal role, a Pride timeline installation, and public programs. Enjoy top-notch coffee at the museum café before a park stroll.
Free New York Public Library celebrations highlight photojournalists Kay Tobin Lahusen and Diana Davies’ documentation of 1960s-70s LGBTQ+ milestones. Special events like The Library After Hours: Pride feature curatorial talks, readings, and a literary drag show.
Camp: Notes on Fashion
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Though not exclusively queer, “camp” is deeply rooted in gay culture, as curator Andrew Bolton observes. The Met’s Costume Institute Camp: Notes on Fashion dazzles with over-the-top designs by John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Gianni Versace, and more. Tracing from Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay to contemporary irreverence, highlights include Björk’s swan dress and Jeremy Scott’s prosciutto gown evoking Lady Gaga’s meat dress. (Gaga co-chaired the gala.)
On the (Queer) Waterfront
"Stevedores Bathing Under Brooklyn Bridge" (1939) by Edward Casey. Courtesy of the Green-Wood Historic Fund and the Brooklyn Historical Society.
Hugh Ryan’s On the (Queer) Waterfront: The Factories, Freaks, Sailors & Sex Workers of Brooklyn illuminates Brooklyn’s overlooked LGBTQ+ history. Starting with Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass era in Brooklyn Heights, it profiles “male impersonator” Ella Wesner (buried in men’s attire) and queer burlesque star Madam Tirza, who bathed in wine at Coney Island.
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