Outpost celebrates NYC Pride 2019

This was a special year for NYC Pride, marking the first year a US city has ever hosted WorldPride, as well as commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which many believe launched the LGBTQ radical movement in the United States. The Outpost team came out in full force to support the LGBTQIA+ community last Sunday. We started off the day with our Pride Brunch event at the Montrose Williamsburg House.

Members from our houses across the city made their way to this new Outpost location for a selection of sweet and savoury crepes, mimosas and flowing conversation. With its large kitchen island and high ceilings, this house was the perfect place to kick off the day in style.

Members came wearing a variety of colors and flags in support of Pride and we even had a glitter station, where Claire showed off her artistic side (and generosity!) by painting beautiful designs on the Outpost members. Jianela, a member of our East Bushwick House, said, ‘I like how accepting people were. Also, I enjoyed everyone’s outfits and seeing everyone support the flag and what it represents.’

After brunch, the Outpost cohort headed to the center of the action at Union Square. We watched the march from the main strip along 5th Avenue, taking in the vast array of floats, performance artists and protesters which passed by. Around 5 million people attended WorldPride in New York City over the weekend, but with the friendly atmosphere and positive vibes it didn’t feel overcrowded. Other members of Outpost also attended the Queer Liberation March, an alternative event which took place hours before the NYC Pride March, without corporate-sponsored floats.

The march marked the end of a month of events in celebration of Pride in NYC, which included a special exhibition at the New York Public Library and a series of art shows, concerts and informative public talks. As day turned to night, the Empire State Building even illuminated its tip in rainbow colors for the occasion, and the Outpost contingent continued to celebrate in the city that never sleeps.

Outpost was proud to share this year’s Pride march with a couple of first-timers, including Lauren, our Marketing Manager, and Daniel, the House Leader at our Bed-Stuy House.

Lauren said of the day: ‘It was so meaningful to me to be able to share my first Pride with such a great group of people. We laughed, we screamed, we got glitter in our eyes ... I had some beautiful conversations with people I’ve come to care about and had an absolute blast. I can’t wait until next year.’

Daniel told us: ‘It was my first pride event that I had the chance to attend. I was lucky enough to be in a city which is not only famous for having the best pride celebrations in the world, but is also where it all began. Being part of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots has been an amazing experience. As a proud member of the queer community, it was awesome to celebrate love, freedom and equality for all our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Without mentioning that I had the best time mainly because I was surrounded by incredible people!’