Last month’s PRIDE FESTIVAL Main Event at Javits Center set a new world record for the largest nightclub event in world history with 13,500 in attendance, topping the previous record of 10,000 attendees held by Privilege in Ibiza.
Produced by Jake Resnicow, the event was held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and featured a star-studded celebrity lineup, with electrifying and iconic live performances by Bette Midler, Kygo, Cyndi Lauper, Brandy, Billy Porter, Conchita Wurst, the off Broadway cast of STOMP, and Zumanity by Cirque du Soleil.
Additionally, Beyonce’s choreographer Chris Grant and his troop of fifty dancers revived his spectacular Coachella performance featured in the Netflix documentary, “Homecoming”.
“I aimed to deliver an event that would make New York proud,” explains producer Jake Resnicow, recently named “Most Influential Person of the Year” by Out Magazine. “I also felt it part of my responsibility to give back to our communities by raising money for the equality movement.”
Among the beneficiaries from the weekend were LifeBeat, an organization that promotes sexual health and safety, who received $110,000. GLADD received $375,000 from Absolut, the presenting partner for PRIDE FESTIVAL. All remaining funds were donated to Trevor Project and the Stonewall Gives Back Initiative, the official charity of the Stonewall Inn.
In addition to ticket sales being donated, the Howard Hughes Corporation and Cultivated donated a significant portion of their gross proceeds from each drink sold at the event.