WABC-TV, New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation, will air “NYC Pride 2020: The 50th Anniversary of the NYC Pride March” on Sunday, June 28, 2020 (12:00-2:00 p.m. EDT), as a virtual live event. The special is hosted by WABC Channel 7’s Eyewitness News anchor Ken Rosato, reporter Lauren Glassberg and weather anchor Sam Champion with special guest co-host Carson Kressley, along with correspondent Kemberly Richardson.

NYC Pride salutes frontline workers, alongside several leaders in the community who are being honored as grand marshals: Dan Levy, Yanzi Peng, Victoria Cruz, and The Ali Forney Center. The celebration will feature performances by Janelle Monáe, Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Luísa Sonza and special appearances by Wilson Cruz, Miss Richfield 1981, Margaret Cho and others.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march held in 1970, however, it was the year prior that protests in Greenwich Village helped spark change across the country. Although it will be a very different type of celebration the tradition of commemorating the LGBTQIA+ movement and raising awareness of fighting against social injustice resonates throughout the special.

“NYC Pride is a special place for so many. I couldn’t imagine a year without celebrating with the fabulous LBGTQ people in New York,” said Carson Kressley. “When I was asked to join this special broadcast event with my friends at WABC, it was a no brainer. Pride is something we carry with us all year long, and though we can’t be together in the way we are accustomed, I’m grateful to be a part of it in this way.”

“We are thrilled to have Carson as our co-host for this special broadcast and what will be a meaningful and entertaining virtual event,” said Debra OConnell, president and general manager of WABC-TV. “The NYC Pride March is such a wonderful day for our city. We look forward to interacting with our viewers in new and creative ways, from virtual watch parties to showing us how you are celebrating Pride this year throughout the broadcast.”

The NYC Pride 2020 Grand Marshals:

  • Dan Levy is an Emmy® Award-nominated showrunner, and writer, actor, director and producer, best known for his work on one of the most beloved shows on television, “Schitt’s Creek,” which he co-created with his father, Eugene Levy. The sitcom recently ended a wildly successful run after six seasons. A pioneer in seamlessly representing LGBTQ+ people in a positive light, this show and Levy stand out in television history.
  • The Ali Forney Center is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to caring and creating safe housing options for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The organization creates programs designed to help young people overcome the traumas of homelessness and family rejection through medical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment.
  • Yanzi Peng is a human rights activist, the executive director of LGBT Rights Advocacy China, and director of China Rainbow Media Awards.
  • Victoria Cruz is an American LGBTQIA+ rights activist and retired domestic violence counselor.
    “The NYC Pride March is such a pillar of our community and I am incredibly honored to be recognized alongside the other grand marshals on its 50th anniversary,” said Dan Levy. “While the physical circumstances are less than ideal, our community has always come together in the face of adversity, and this year’s broadcast is no exception. I am so inspired by the opportunity we’ve been given to celebrate together.”

“While we are saddened to not be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NYC Pride March in person, we are thrilled to still be able to recognize our grand marshals,” said March Director Brian J. Heck. “These inspiring pillars of the LGBTQIA+ community are leading the way as we begin the journey of the next 50 years of Pride. This year, we are also proud to honor all of the frontline workers who put their own health at risk to unconditionally serve our LGBTQIA+ community with love and compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic. These heroes prove that the future is a place where we embrace the full rainbow of our community.”

The “NYC Pride 2020: The 50th Anniversary of the NYC Pride March” will broadcast on WABC Channel 7 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. and will also be available to stream live on WABC-TV’s connected TV apps and abc7ny.com, as well as on the ABC News Live channel.

 

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.