Heritage of Pride

Millions of spectators gather every year for New York's Gay Pride March.

Heritage of Pride (HOP, also known as NYC Pride) is a wholly volunteer-managed, non-partisan, tax-exempt, non-profit organization that organizes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride events in New York City to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Heritage of Pride is one of the few LGBT organizations that is run at the grass-roots level.

Since 1984, HOP has been the producer and organizer of pride events in New York City. The March, "PrideFest" (a street fair), and the "Dance on the Pier" are the main events of Pride Week in New York City Gay Pride Week.

HOP/NYC Pride produces five primary events collectively known as NYC LGBT Pride:
"The Rally", On Saturday one week before the last Sunday of June, at the Summer Stage of NYC's Central Park.
"PrideFest", Last Sunday in June on Hudson St. btw Abingdon Sq. & West 14th St.
"Rapture", Saturday before Dance on the Pier, on Pier 54, 13th Street @ Hudson River Park
"Dance on the Pier", Last Sunday in June on Pier 54, 13th Street @ Hudson River Park, and
"The March", Last Sunday in June always starting at Noon down 5th Avenue to Christopher & Greenwich Street.

As HOP states on their website, "these events are organized for and on behalf of all (LGBT) individuals and groups, and all others who support the struggle for the liberation of these communities," and HOP "welcomes the participation of all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national origin, physical, mental or developmental ability, race, religion or sexual orientation."

Annual LGBT pride March

The Gay Pride March NYC Pride March is an annual March more commonly referred to as the Parade in New York City, traversing southward down Fifth Avenue and ending at Greenwich Village. The March passes by the site of the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street, location of the 1969 police raid which launched the modern Gay Rights Movement.

The first NYC Gay Pride March was held in 1970 called the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day and is the oldest gay pride parade. The March has been and will continued to be called a March not a Parade until there is full equality for the LGBTQ community.

Stonewall 40

2009 marks the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City. For this reason, HOP in conjunction with NYC local government, promoted the event to attract people from around the world.^{[citation needed]}

Grand marshals for the NYC LGBT pride march

2011

• Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller, It Gets Better Project.
• Rev. Pat Bumgardner of the Metropolitan Community Church of New York.
• Imperial Court of New York LGBT organization.^[1]

2010

• Constance McMillen - High School student who stood up to to her school for cancelling the Prom because she wanted to take a girl friend.
• Judy Shepard - Mother of murdered son Matthew Shepard and co-founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
• Lt. Dan Choi - Outspoken military officer for the repeal of the military Don't ask, don't tell policy.

On February 9, 2010 NYC Pride announced Lt. Dan Choi as one of its Grand Marshals for the 40th Annual LGBT Pride March, which will occur on June 27, 2010.^[2] When first approached about the request to be the NYC Grand Marshal, Lt. Choi responded with resounding excitement and a sense of honor for all who have struggled under this policy. Lt. Choi’s selection and acceptance of the honor of NYC LGBT Pride Grand Marshal marks the second time in U.S. history that an openly gay male currently serving with the U.S. Armed Forces will be an LGBT Pride March Grand Marshal.

On Monday, February 15, 2010; Heritage of Pride, the producers of the annual LGBT Pride March down 5th Avenue in New York City announced that Judy Shepard ^[3] has been selected as a Grand Marshal for the March along with Lt. Dan Choi previously announced.^{[4][dead link][5] [6]}

Constance McMillen, the Mississippi high school senior who fought her school's decision to cancel the prom rather than allow her to attend with her girlfriend, was named as the third Grand Marshal on April 12, 2010.^[7]

2009

Grand marshals for the 2009 march included incumbent Governor of New York, David Paterson^[8] and three LGBT rights activists with close ties to Harvey Milk:

• Dustin Lance Black - director, film and television producer, and screenwriter of the 2008 biopic Milk
• Cleve Jones - former intern for Milk's campaigns
• Anne Kronenberg - former campaign manager for Milk

HOP Executive Board

2011–2012

• Co-Chairs: Ada Ospina & Alan Reiff
• Secretary: Craig L. Williams
• Treasurer: Marc Rayner
• Community Relations Director: David Schneider
• Dance Director: Mo George
• Development Director: Fluffy Sullivan
• Human Resources Director: Maryanne Roberto
• March Director: Mike Dunlap
• Media Director: Tish Flynn
• PrideFest Director: Lori Chance
• Rally Director: Audrey Luce^[9]

2010–2011

• Co-Chairs: Arthur Finn & Ada Ospina
• Secretary: Craig L. Williams
• Treasurer: Marc Rayner
• Community Relations Director:
• Dance Director: Maryanne Roberto
• Development Director: Jonathan Whitford
• Human Resources Director: Fran Rolan
• March Director: Mike Dunlap
• Media Director: Warren Mayer
• PrideFest Director: Lori Chance
• Rally Director: Audrey Luce^[10]

2009–2010

• Co-Chairs: Fran Rolan & Arthur Finn
• Secretary: Craig L. Williams
• Treasurer: Marc Rayner
• Community Relations Director: Monique George
• Dance Director: Maryanne Roberto
• Development Director: Jonathan Whitford
• Human Resources Director: Michael Lavelle
• Acting March Director: Arthur Finn^[11]

• Media Director: Jimmy Wood
• PrideFest Director: Sheila Sim
• Rally Director: Ada Ospina.^[12]

See also

LGBT portal

• LGBT history

External links

• Official NYC Pride website

References

1. ^ "Judy Shepard to Make final official Pride Appearance & Serve as Grand Marshal of the 41st Annual NYC LGBT Pride March". April 2011. http://http://www.nycpride.org/pdf/2011_GM%20Press%20Release_FINAL.pdf. 
2. ^ http://queernewyorkblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/qny-exclusive-lt-dan-choi-to-serve-as.html
3. ^ "'Judy Shepard to Make final official Pride Appearance & Serve as Grand Marshal of the 41st Annual NYC LGBT Pride March". Heritage of Pride / NYC Pride. February 15, 2010. http://www.nycpride.org. 
4. ^ Broverman, Neal (February 10, 2010). "'Gay N.Y. Heats Dan Choi". The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/02/10/Gay_NY_Heats_Dan_Choi/. 
5. ^ Langfelder, Natasia (February 10, 2010). "'Lt. Dan Choi to be Grand Marshall at Pride Parade". LEZGET Real. http://www.lezgetreal.com/?p=26326. 
6. ^ Michaane, Maurice (February 15, 2010). "'QNY Exclusive: Judy Shepard to make final official pride appearance & serve as grand marshal of the 41st annual NYC LGBT Pride March". Queer New York. http://queernewyorkblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/qny-exclusive-judy-shepard-to-make.html. 
7. ^ McMillen, Shepard and Choi will represent the LGBT community as Grand Marshal's this year. McMillen Named NYC Gay Pride Grand Marshal
8. ^ Heritage of Pride, Inc. General Membership Minutes of November 10, 2008 
9. ^ Heritage of Pride, Inc. General Membership Minutes of September 12, 2011 
10. ^ Heritage of Pride, Inc. General Membership Minutes of September 13, 2010 
11. ^ Heritage of Pride, Inc. Executive Board Minutes of April 5, 2010 
12. ^ Heritage of Pride, Inc. General Membership Minutes of September 14, 2009