Macy’s Herald Square Celebrates WorldPride 2019

As a platinum sponsor of NYC Pride, the official host of WorldPride 2019 | Stonewall 50, Macy’s participated in a number of activities throughout June to celebrate “Millions of Moments of Pride.” Macy’s Herald Square hosted four unique murals created by renowned artists as part of the WorldPride Mural Project, featured a Pride + Joy Shop showcasing pride-themed merchandise, collaborated with The Trevor Project to raise more than $1.5 million for the LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention services organization, hosted a Drag Queen Story Hour and a Drag Queen Brunch, participated in the NYC Pride March with a special Pride float and held a party for thousands throughout the store.

WorldPride Mural Project at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City

Long known for spectacular window displays that give vivid expression to cherished traditions through immersive storytelling, Macy’s Herald Square, in partnership with L.I.S.A. Project NYC, showcased four large murals, each created by a New York City street artist, in the prominent store windows facing Herald Square. The riveting artworks by artists Jenna Morello, Miishab, The DRiF! and Dain broadcast powerful messages related to Pride.

Painted ribbons stretching from a store window down and across the highly trafficked 34th Street served as a visual bridge connecting the store to all passersby and, true to the concept, connoting the bonds between people of all stripes.

Thousands of people from all over the world stream past the Macy's windows day and night; and on June 6th, 2019, when the Pride windows were unveiled, busy New Yorkers and tourists could not help but be drawn in by the brilliant hues and patterns captured in the windows' inventive mix of murals, fashions and fixtures.

Drag Queen Story Hour at Macy’s Herald Square

On Saturday, June 22, 2019, Macy’s sponsored a Drag Queen Story Hour at the Stella 34 restaurant inside Macy’s Herald Square, inviting kids and teens of all ages and the adults in their lives to listen to drag queens assembled by the Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) non-profit read stories focused on messages of inclusion and diversity.

The drag queens’ glamourous clothing and makeup and their highly entertaining approach to audience engagement gripped the attendees’ imaginations, presenting them with positive role models and fresh ideas about gender and diversity. The readings reinforced the guests' understanding that we are all different and that it is not only good, but also essential to be who we truly are.

Macy’s invited several drag queens to perform at a brunch held at its Stella 34 restaurant inside the Macy’s Herald Square store on Sunday, June 23. People from many different cities attended the event, enjoyed delicious food, drinks and a photobooth; fun and invigorating tunes played by a DJ; and the rollicking song-, dance- and humor-filled performances of drag queens.

FiFi DuBois, who transitioned from long hair to short during the show, glimmered and shimmered in a form-fitting dress as she turned cartwheels. Pattaya Hart, described as "a spitfire and firecracker" when introduced, shed several layers of clothing during her gymnastic performance to reveal three separate outfits. And Kerry Curtain, initially clad in a slinky super-hero-style body suit, sung a variety of hand-themed songs to which she gracefully moved her own "hands."

The event was hosted by the luminous, gold-clad Peppermint, a Broadway star and RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist.

On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Macy’s staged a PRIDE Celebration in the Herald Square store, to commemorate WorldPride and a LGBTQ Changemakers event in support of the work and mission of The Trevor Project.

Thousands of attendees mingled with the 2019 Changemaker award honorees and enjoyed cocktails, giveaways, a silent auction and spectacular live entertainment, hosted by Peppermint, a finalist of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Voguers from POSE (an American TV series about the 1980s and early 1990s African American and Latino trans, gay and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in New York City) struck theatrical poses characterized by a striking athleticism, from sashaying hips and twisting arms to splayed legs and twirling torsos. House of YES performers combined dance maneuvers with circus artistry, including stilt-walking. The beautiful Season 10 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Aquaria awed the audience with jaw-dropping dancing and stunning outfits.

Capping off the night was a performance by Big Freedia, the renowned Queen of Bounce, who performed her inimitable brand of New Orleans hip hop, calling on the audience to participate in call-and-response routines and join her on stage to demonstrate unique moves to rapid-fire beats.

In a final celebratory burst, hundreds of colorful balloons were dropped on the ecstatic crowd.

A record-breaking 5 million people turned out for the historic New York Pride March that took place on June 30th. Macy’s has been participating in the Pride March for more than a decade and for this year’s historic global event, the Macy’s Parade Studio (which also produces the famed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, Macy’s Flower Show® and Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks® events) created a float featuring an enormous globe beneath an arching multi-colored rainbow.

The float, populated by Macy’s employees and pumping out music, proudly moved through the streets of Manhattan, surrounded by people who had come from all over the world to celebrate the freedom and human rights of the LGBTQ community. 800 marchers from Macy’s joined the Parade to show their solidarity.

The globe on the float evoked the global nature of the event, serving as a visual proclamation of Macy’s support of human interconnectedness, dignity and the freedom of all to be who they are and move through the world with confidence.

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