On Thursday night, a star-studded Pride party at the Standard hotel in New York — culminating in a two-song performance by Madonna — helped raise more than $100,000 for LGBTQ+ organisations, besides confirming that NYC nightlife is very much back in action.
Kicking off with sets from the likes of Kaytranada, Honey Dijon, The Misshapes, and Eli Escobar, the event drew crowds of faithful fans, who packed into the hotel’s Boom Boom Room for the 1.30am performance of “Hung Up” and “I Don’t Search I Find” from the top of the bar (that’s if they could get in).
“We are here to celebrate our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, support some amazing Queer initiatives, declare Pride NY weekend open and the return of NYC,” wrote the pop icon ahead of the event. On the night, meanwhile, she celebrated the retun of in-person gatherings, telling guests: “This is the first time I’ve been to a fucking party with people.”
She also premiered a Pride-themed video installation in collaboration with photographer Ricardo Gomes and Sasha Kasiuha (watch via Instagram below). Titled No Fear, Courage, Resist, the video screened on displays in Times Square the same evening.
Three original polaroids from the shoot were additionally auctioned off by Madonna herself, raising $10,000, $25,000, and $25,000, respectively, for the Ali Forney Center and the Haus of US.
Unsurprisingly, the Boom Boom Room party drew a number of famous faces besides (or because of) Madonna. Some notable attendees included Indya Moore, Leyna Bloom, Zachary Quinto, Hari Nef, Telfar Clemens, and Gossip Girl’s Evan Mock, plus a whole host of Drag Race stars, from Violet Chachki, Aquaria and Gigi Goode, to 2021 Dazed 100ers Gottmik and Symone.
Watch scenes from Thursday’s celebration, along with Madonna’s Pride video, below.