Viva Versace! Part 11

Tribute to everything Versace, from videos, editorials, ad campaigns, quotes, and images from my personal archives spanning 20ish years. I catalogue Versace's images from my favorite collections during the last decade.

4 Decades of NYC Pride: Were You There?!

PHOTOS: Four Decades of NYC Gay Pride. 

Were You There?

1978-Now

World Pride Celebration NYC: Biggest Event ever!

NYC’s month-long WorldPride celebration wrapped up on Sunday (6/30) with one of the biggest Pride Marches the city has ever hosted. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, hundreds of thousands of revelers lined the streets as, starting at noon, over 600 contingents marched, including politicians (New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Mayor Bill de Blasio all made their customary appearances), groups representing different countries throughout the world and various sexual orientations, marching bands, community groups, and, of course, lots of corporations and companies. 

Their overwhelming attendence of the March, along with heavy police presence, led to the creation of a separate Queer Liberation March, which had its inaugural year in its current form on Sunday as well. Pictures from that are still to come, and you can check out lots of pictures (some are NSFW) from the huge, colorful WorldPride spectacle in the gallery above.

As New York Post reports, not only did Cuomo march this year, he also signed bill A2707 into law right from the parade route. The new law bans so-called gay and trans “panic” from being used as a defense to justify crimes. “This defense strategy isn’t just offensive,” Cuomo said, “it also sends a dangerous message that violence toward LGBTQ people is somehow okay. It’s not, and today we’re sending this noxious legal tool to the dustbin of history where it belongs.”

Donatella & Lady Gaga at World Pride NYC!

In case you were wondering what Lady Gaga’s Pride plans were, rest assured she’s doing things big. A surprise addition to the lineup at today’s Stonewall Day celebrations, Gaga arrived in Greenwich Village wearing an outfit that underscored her support for the LGBTQ community. Bright and unapologetically brash, her custom Versace color-blocked cropped denim jacket, fringed cutoffs, and thigh-high rainbow boots captured the joyous spirit of the event.

Joined by fellow icon Donatella Versace, Gaga saluted the crowd for continuing the fight for equality and honored Stonewall’s pioneers Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera for their fearlessness. “This community has fought and continued to fight a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance, and the most relentless bravery,” she said. “You are the definition of courage.”

On any other occasion, Gaga’s clothes would have been the main event, but her speech, which called for an end to violence against the trans community, took the focus. “Be bold and embrace the Stonewall legacy,” she told the crowd, reminding them to head to the polls next election. “Love each other raise your voice and my gosh, don’t forget to vote!”

Pride Month comes to an end this weekend in New York City with the WorldPride march today celebrating 50 years since the Stonewall riots. Prior to the colorful parade, celebrities have been on the scene rocking their best rainbow gear; earlier in the week, Lady Gaga did Stonewall Day justice in a custom design by Versace. And now today, Donatella Versace herself channeled her muse in another thematic ensemble.

Captioning her photo, “Ready for the march!!,” the Italian designer hit the streets in a long-sleeved mini dress covered in rainbow’d sequins. For a more-is-more touch, she added thigh-high boots in the same multicolor treatment—those kinky boots resembling the style Gaga wore for her performance for the Stonewall Day celebrations a few days prior. It goes to show that while they always need a muse, sometimes a designer can be their own best fit model. In doing so, Donatella paid homage to the LGBTQ community in the most fabulous way.

How did DONATELLA & Celebritied Celebrate PRIDE!

How Donatella Versace, Pete Davidson, 

and More Celebrities 

Celebrated Pride

There was no missing the pride-related festivities in New York City on Sunday—particularly since this past weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a landmark catalyst for the gay rights movement. The day started off with the Queer Liberation March—a non-corporate revival of the uprising's original political roots, organized by Reclaim Pride—but it wasn't long before it made way for the usual festivities. This year's official parade, WorldPride NYC 2019, once again flooded the streets with millions of marchers and allies (as well as no shortage of police). 

Even Pete Davidson showed face, as Tommy Dorfman proved by posting a photo of himself eating popsicles with Davidson, whom he described as his "fave straight." He managed to fly under the radar, but most did not; Donatella Versace embarked on a weekend-long mission to be as loud and proud about her appointment as this year's Stonewall Ambassador as possible. See who joined her on the floats and Davidson in the streets, including a few surprise allies like Paris Hilton, here.