Who says Thursday afternoons can’t be exciting?

On Thursday, June 26th at 4PM, writer, producer, and TV superhero Andy Cohen was Special Guest in the annual tower lighting ceremony of the iconic Empire State Building, in partnership with the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI).  The ceremony was a celebration of New York City Pride 2025.  Actor and singer Lorna Luft, a champion of LGBTQ equality who sits on the Advisory Board for SIGBI, was also in attendance.

Dana Robbins Schneider, Senior Vice President, Director of Energy Sustainability for Empire State Reality Trust, spoke about the Empire State Building’s commitment to honoring the diversity of New York City, with the illuminating of the tower lights in rainbow colors on Sunday, June 29th to be symbolic of love, unity, and inclusion for all.  Next up was tireless LGBTQ activist Stacy Lentz, CEO of SIGBI.  Lentz reminded everyone that with LGBTQ rights– particularly trans and non-binary rights– being under attack across the United States, Pride 2025 was more important than ever. Lentz then introduced Mr. Cohen.

The Emmy Award-winning entertainment multi-hyphenate, equally famous and infamous alike for The Real Housewives franchise and the Bravo late night talk show Watch What Happens Live, spoke to the lucky attendees about the importance of Pride Month: “Thank you so much for having me!  This is super exciting to be here, and I’m also so moved that The Empire State Building is doing this.  Diversity is who we all are.  Diversity is a BEAUTIFUL thing!  Celebrating diversity and celebrating our community by lighting The Empire State Building in beautiful rainbow colors is more important than ever.  Visibility is SUPER-IMPORTANT in 2025 more than ever!  Rainbows are NOT scary!  Rainbows are beautiful things.  Rainbows should be EMBRACED!  I’m so excited that the City will be bathed in the light of the rainbow on Sunday night, as it should be.  So, thank you so much, Empire State Building! This is really exciting. THANKS!” 

The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) is the official charitable giving organization of the historic Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement and the center piece of one of the United States’ newest national monuments. SIGBI carries forward the legacy of The Stonewall Inn by supporting LGBTQ+ communities, fostering inclusivity, and driving progress in the fight for equality worldwide.  Visit http://www.StonewallInitiative.org for more information.