The New York Office of Nightlife presents The State of LGBTQIA+  Nightlife Scene & Community in NYC

The New York Office of Nightlife
presents
The State of LGBTQIA+ 
Nightlife Scene & Community in NYC
at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC
Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 6-9pm

The New York Office of Nightlife at the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment invites New Yorkers and visitors to attend a pre-Pride panel discussion The State of LGBTQIA+ Nightlife Scene & Community in NYC with prominent voices from New York City’s LQBTQIA+ nightlife community at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC on Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 6-9pm. RSVPs are requested at: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mome/nightlife/nightlife.page.

For many in the LGBTQIA+ community, New York City’s nightlife provides a safe space for expression and serves as a place to find a community for people from all over the world. This panel will address how the nightlife scene can better provide safe spaces that emphasize harm reduction while promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity and address how New York’s nightlife can contribute to the ongoing fight for social justice and equality for LGBTQIA+ people here and around the world.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, New York City is hosting WorldPride NYC, a global celebration and recognition of the movement for equality and social justice. In June 2019, New York expects as many as four to six million additional visitors from around the world for this milestone. This global event is an opportunity to reflect on the impact that LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers have had on global nightlife culture and recognize the local contributions and challenges that still exist today.

About the New York Office of Night Life: 
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation in September 2017 to establish the office, and Council Member Rafael Espinal sponsored the bill. The Office of Nightlife cements New York’s position as a global leader in a growing movement of more than 30 major cities around the world working to balance vibrancy and safety by proactively managing life at night. Similar efforts in cities such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Berlin have yielded social benefits such as reductions in noise complaints, and healthier, more productive nighttime economies.

The Office of Nightlife is led by Senior Executive Director Ariel Palitz, a lifelong New Yorker and nightlife professional. Palitz comes to the role with deep experience in both nightlife and community building. She owned and operated Sutra, a nightclub on the Lower East Side, for ten years; served on Community Board 3 for over six years and spent the past three years before her current appointment helping entrepreneurs open nightlife establishments in NYC through her consulting company Venue Advisors.

About Town Stages: 
(Robin Sokoloff, Executive Director) is a state-of-the-art cultural arts space, event venue, and cocktail bar in the heart of downtown Tribeca. With a stunning 10,000 square foot storefront facility, Town Stages blends convention-level facilities with captivating decor for 299 guests. Serving as New York’s premier venue to celebrate, collaborate, and put on a show, Town Stages offers much needed meeting space and production resources for businesses, arts organizations, and families celebrating their very important day. Centrally located off all major NYC trains, Town Stages is available for corporate gatherings, fashion shows, film shoots, weddings, & beyond.  Follow under @townstages and #itsyourtown. https://townstages.com.

About Sokoloff Arts (501c3) at Town Stages:
Sokoloff Arts (501c3) is a women-led cultural institution creating inspired space and cutting edge experiences at Town Stages. Helmed by a team of women from different backgrounds and multi-hyphenate artistic disciplines, Sokoloff Arts builds viable and safe places to congregate, strives to promote cross-cultural community activations, and blends the arts and business sectors to design sustainable solutions to social and financial inequalities in New York City and abroad. The organization assists young creators with mentorship, sponsorship, and fellowship by supporting ticketed performances and curated community programming in the performing arts, fine arts, and the advancement of social justice. https://townstages.com/non-profit.