There’s no shortage of Pride in New York City, but things are about to get even brighter in the city with Billy Porter’s help.
The Pose star is scheduled to light up the Empire State Building in celebration of Pride 2023 this Thursday, June 22, in partnership with Republic Records, The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, and The Trevor Project.
The famous skyscraper has been lit up in rainbow colors every June since 1990, sending a clear message of support for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors alike.
\u201cThe Empire State Building is Lit up in all the colors of the Rainbow this evening in honor of Pride month \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u201d— Spread Love and Kindness \ud83d\ude4f (@Spread Love and Kindness \ud83d\ude4f) 1593392640
This year’s lighting ceremony will also feature the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performing Porter’s song, “Love Yourself.” The ode to authenticity and self-expression has already become a staple at Pride celebrations across the country every summer since its 2019 release.
\u201cThe #PoseFX cast performs Billy Porter\u2019s \u201cLove Yourself\u201d for the \u201cPose-A-Thon,\u201d which airs tomorrow! #PoseAThon\u201d— The AHS Zone (@The AHS Zone) 1593109723
The Emmy award winner will also appear as one of the Grand Marshals at the NYC Pride March on June 25, alongside Yasmin Benoit, AC Dumlao, Hope Giselle, and Randy Wicker, which will also feature Angelica Ross as both a performer and co-host.
In a year where bigots seem particularly determined to limit the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating Pride feels more important than ever. And having Porter lead the charge to light up one of the country’s most famous buildings with those rainbow lights is wonderfully symbolic of the refusal to do anything but shine ever again.
