Today the leadership of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC), along with invited guests, will ring the Closing Bell™ at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The Closing Bell is a 317-year-old tradition, making the end of the trading day at one of the world’s oldest and most respected stock exchanges.
This is the second time the NGLCC has been invited to ring the Closing Bell—the first being the historic moment in 2005 when the organization became the first LGBT organization to do so. That moment also marked the first recognition of LGBT Pride Month at the Exchange. This year’s Bell Ringing Ceremony is a part of a larger event being held at the NYSE by the NGLCC and its collaborating partners.
From Stonewall to Federal Hall will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that led to the push for equal rights for LGBT people. In addition to the Closing Bell Ceremony, the day will include a symposium discussion on the LGBT movement in the 40 years since Stonewall, followed by a Pride Month Launch Cocktail Reception on the NYSE Trading Floor.
For this one special day, the NGLCC, NYSE Euronext, NGLCCNY will host Members of Congress, other LGBT advocacy organizations and corporate champions as they gather in the economic center of the world--the NYSE--to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall and the global launch of LGBT Pride Month. Also joining will be Ross Polombo, Anchor of LOGO Television's 365 Gay New powered by CBS, Ronnie Kroll from Bravo TV's Make Me a Supermodel and several cast members of the 2009 Tony Award nominated Broadway musical, Hair.
Organizational Partners for this event include the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the National Black Justice Coalition, Lambda Legal, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the International Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, GLAAD, Empire State Pride Agenda, and The Center: The NYC LGBT Community Center.
Corporate sponsors for the event include Aetna, American Airlines, CNBC, Continental Airlines, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Hilton, ING, LAN Airlines, LOGO Television, Metlife, Merck, Morgan Stanley, NYC & Company, Ogilvy, Schering–Plough, and Southwest Airlines. Other event sponsors include NGLCC certified suppliers [hotlink to supplier diversity on web page] Femworks, The Mixx, and OmniStudio.
Event Schedule:
4:00 pm--Closing Bell Ceremony Viewing from NYSE Board Room
4:30-6:00 pm--Symposium Discussion: The LGBT Movement and the 40 Years Since Stonewall
6:00-8:00pm--VIP Pride Month Launch Reception on the Floor of NY Stock Exchange
