The Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival is the second oldest and second largest pride parade in New York City. Founded in 1993, it is held annually on the first Sunday in June, in the neighborhood of Jackson Heights.
The parade was founded by Daniel Dromm and co-chaired by Maritza Martinez to raise the visibility of the LGBTQ community in Queens and memorialize Jackson Heights resident Julio Rivera.
Queens also serves as the largest transgender hub in the Western hemisphere and is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world.
The Queens Pride Parade formed in response to Rivera’s murder and, more directly, to the 1992 homophobic outcry over the inclusion of gay and lesbian content in the Children of the Rainbow curriculum, which was designed to teach children tolerance of all of New York City’s diverse communities.
As a result, former NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm, who was then a public school teacher in the borough’s Community School District 24 (where the controversy was centered), came out as openly gay and decided to counter the ensuing propaganda with a family-friendly celebratory parade that would promote LGBT visibility and pride, and be based in a neighborhood where many closeted gay people lived.
On November 22, 1992, the initial planning meeting was held in Dromm’s Flushing apartment, and the formation of the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee (QLGPC) followed soon after at a meeting of Queens Gays and Lesbians United (Q-GLU).
Co-chaired by Dromm and Cuban-born LGBT rights activist Maritza Martinez, QLGPC canvassed neighborhood gay bars for donations and support. Dromm later recalled that some bar owners were resistant, “It was a very quiet lesbian and gay community — a large one but not a very visible one. [People were worried] that if they became visible, they would pay a price.”
The first Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival took place on Sunday, June 6, 1993, and an estimated 10,000 people attended. The parade route ran from 89th to 75th Streets along 37th Avenue, which was painted with a lavender line.
The accompanying stage show featured drag queen and transgender performers, who were also pivotal beforehand in helping to raise money and promote the parade at the gay bars where they regularly entertained. Martinez gave a bilingual speech, with the following spoken in Spanish.
The 2023 New Queens Pride Grand Marshals represent the great leadership, advocacy and diversity of the world’s borough.
We are proud to announce that Linda Lee, New York City Council Member, Lynn Schulman, New York City Council Member, Selvena N. Brooks-Power, New York City Council Member, Shekar Krishnan, New York City Council Member.
Drag Story Hour, a creative arts program, CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium, a collective group who’s mission is to preserve LGBTQIA+ history, offer programs, exhibits, events, and training, and Ceyenne Doroshow, an activist, community organizer, and Executive Director & Founder of G.L.I.T.S., will be the honorary Grand Marshals for the 2023 Queens Pride Parade.
Since 1993, Queens Pride continues to promote the visibility and accomplishments of the LGBT community and to foster acceptance by the many cultures and religions represented in our borough.
Thousands of people in attendance, many political leaders and organizations in attendance, it was a great parade, entertainment was first class, many vendors you can buy items from.
It was 13th Annual attendance by World Liberty TV, LGBTQ+ Channels and blogs and LGBTQ+ Photo-Gallery. Click here for more information.
Renowned hospitality industry and business leaders and influencers from around the globe will convene once again at the 45th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, hosted by the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.
The premier hospitality finance and development forum of its kind, the Conference features presentations by global hotel CEOs, owners, developers, investors, lenders, analysts, and other innovators on current issues and trends in the industry.
The event raises funds for student scholarships and educational programs at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, which has educated the next generation of industry leaders for over 25 years.
Nicolas Graf, Jonathan M. Tisch Chaired Professor and associate dean of the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, kicks off the first day by welcoming attendees to the Conference, which is packed with high-energy panels, informative breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.
Then, Jonathan M. Tisch, executive chairman, Loews Hotels, co-chairman of the board, Loews, who serves as conference chair, officially opens the conference by sharing timely updates on recent developments and trends in the industry and providing a preview of what’s to come at this year’s conference.
On Monday, June 5, The CEOs Check-In: A View from the Top, a highlight of the annual conference, will feature leading hospitality executives discussing the evolving investment landscape and the changing consumer base, as well as how the competition is pressing them to focus their brands and differentiate their companies. Sara Eisen, anchor, “Closing Bell,” CNBC, will moderate the discussion with:
Keith Barr, chief executive officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Sébastien M. Bazin, chairman and chief executive officer, Accor, Anthony Capuano, president and chief executive officer, Marriott International Leslie D. Hale, president and chief executive officer, RLJ Lodging Trust, Mark S. Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton.
On Tuesday, June 6, “The Leaders Check-In Part Two: The Top In Class Share What’s Top of Mind,” moderated by Jeanelle Johnson, principal and lead client partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), will feature a discussion with: Michael D. Brown, president and chief executive officer, Travel + Leisure Co., Bruno Chauvat, chief executive officer, Travelsify, Larry Cuculic, president and chief executive officer, Best Western Hotels and Resorts, Michael J. Deitemeyer, president and chief executive officer, Aimbridge Hospitality and Greg Juceam, president and chief executive officer, Extended Stay America.
In addition, the Conference features 15 other general session discussions and more than 20 concurrent workshops focused on various specialized industry topics, allowing attendees to customize their event experience while gaining critical industry information from interactive panel discussions.
THE IREFAC C. EVERETT JOHNSON AWARD, The Industry Real Estate Finance Advisory Council (IREFAC), annually presents an award to an individual in the hospitality community who has shown remarkable business acumen in leading their organization to new levels of financial success.
Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global Chief Executive Officer, JLL | Hotels & Hospitality was the Recipient this year.
There were many Workshops conducted at the Conference, networking events and so much more .
Close to One Thousand people were in attendance at the 45th Annual NYU Int’l Hospitality Industry Investment Conference NYC-2023.
It was World Liberty TV’s 3rd Appearance and covering the event in our World Liberty TV, Business Channels. See More in our World Liberty TV, Business Channels and Blogs by Clicking here.
Retail’s Big Show is retail’s most important event. With three days of educational programing, an enormous Expo featuring the latest retail solutions, plus an Innovation Lab and Startup Zone featuring breakthrough technology, Retail’s Big Show will introduce you to the ideas, people and partners that will put you on the fast track to success.
The retailers who matter most are at NRF Retail Week. It’s the must-attend gathering where retail’s decision-makers and influencers come together to learn, share, collaborate, network and inspire.
Surrounding NRF 2023: Retail’s Big Show, NRF Retail Week is a week-long celebration of parties, high-profile partner events, innovative store tours, experiential tech, workshops, educational sessions and more. Preview it all here, where NRF curates and promotes New York City’s must-attend events for retailers.
The eighth annual NRF Foundation Honors took place Sunday night at the New York Marriott Marquis to recognize the outstanding leadership of retail executives, award student scholarships and highlight retail as an industry of opportunity. The event raised nearly $3 million to fund the NRF Foundation’s career development programs and resources.
Some of the Speakers included: Simone Bile’s decorated athlete and advocate and the power of perseverance, Chobani ; CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, hiring refugees is a no-brainer, Whole Foods Market, CEO Jason Buechel, LVMH and Louis Vuitton Inc, North America Chairman and CEO Anish Melwani on the luxury company’s enduring success, Kroger, CEO Rodney McMullen on evolving the customer experience, Walmart’s Chairman and CEO, John Furner on the importance of a long-term perspective.
Food Service Tech Pavilion: Tech that’s hot off the grill. The Food Service Technology Pavilion is specifically curated for those who operate within the retail food service sector. It’s a specialized area of the Expo where professionals from IT, finance, marketing and digital technology explore new solutions to help accelerate their business.
The Pavilion showcases systems that address the needs of food service operations including point-of-sale and back-office systems, digital signage and menu boards, loyalty and data, online ordering and more. Exhibitors in the Pavilion offer services to build a more efficient technology stack in retail or standalone foodservice operations.
Innovation Lab: Breakthrough tech that breaks expectations. The NRF Innovation Lab showcases the latest applications in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, machine learning, facial recognition, robotics and more. This immersive exhibit tracks the latest developments in retail’s transformation and what retail can be now and in the future.
Startup Zone: Break out of the old and get in with the new. The Startup Zone is where you’ll get to meet the newest companies in retail and see their biggest, standout ideas.
Here, you’ll be the first to hear about the breakthrough technology and radical thinking that everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
Consumer Product Showcase: Included close to 50 Companies showcasing many products and services, huge diversity of people involved in all kinds of retail business’s Sponsored by Amazon, American Express, SAP, first Prize was a $15,000 Prize Second prize winner got $10,000 towards their business.
About NRF: The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.
About NRF Foundation: The NRF Foundation provides the skills and resources needed for a life-changing career. As NRF’s nonprofit 501(c)(3), we connect people to an industry that’s a great place to start and a great place to grow. Together, we help people build better lives and stronger communities.
It was World Liberty TV’s 20th Annual Appearance at NRF 2023, yes we have been covering it in our World Liberty TV, Business and Retail Channels, Blogs that long. This year was special because of the COVID, for the last few years. Things have changed drastically, but this year we saw many people in attendance, more companies coming back, Networking events, Night parties, Dinners and many VIP Events taking place. It reminds us on the good old days, which I believe are back and going forward. Also NRF in 2024, will be doing NRF Asia in Singapore, if you are a retailer looking to have a foot print in Asia, this show might be a right fit for you to attend.
See much more about NRF 2023, in our World Liberty TV, Retail, Business and Finance Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
