Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the spire of One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit this weekend in honor of LGBT pride. The iconic landmarks will be lit the colors of the transgender flag for Trans Day of Action today, June 23rd and the colors of the pride flag on Saturday, June 24th. On Sunday, June 25th, One World Trade Center will also be illuminated in the colors of the pride flag and a multi-colored LED light show will take place on the Kosciusko Bridge to celebrate pride.



"From Stonewall to marriage equality to protecting transgender individuals to the first-in-the nation executive action to ban conversion therapy, New York continues to lead the nation in protecting the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people," Governor Cuomo said. "I am directing One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit in honor of pride as a strong signal that no matter your race, creed, color, gender identity or expression, New York will fight for your right to live free from persecution and prejudice."



Throughout his time in office, Governor Cuomo has been a national leader in championing LGBT rights. In 2011, New York passed the historic Marriage Equality Act and sent a message to the nation that it was time to end one of society's greatest inequities. In 2015, Governor Cuomo implemented regulations affirming that all transgender individuals are protected under the State’s Human Rights Law, and all public and private employers, housing providers, businesses, creditors and others should know that discrimination against transgender persons is unlawful and will not be tolerated in New York State.



Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo nominated Paul Feinman to the state’s highest court – the New York Court of Appeals – who, with his confirmation this week, became the first openly gay person to serve on the court.



Additionally, Governor Cuomo has committed to making New York the first state in the nation to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, banned the deplorable practice of conversion therapy, and strengthened health care and insurance regulations to protect transgender New Yorkers. Last year, the Governor announced that all HIV-Positive individuals in New York City will now be eligible for housing, transportation and nutritional support through a significant expansion of Emergency Shelter Assistance. This marks the latest in a series of actions that the state has taken to protect all New Yorkers from discrimination, building on the historic enactment of the Hate Crimes Act which made discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in 2000.



Chris Frederick, Managing Director of NYC Pride, said, "I would like to thank Governor Andrew M Cuomo for lighting up the bridges across New York City. Just as the bridges connect our 5 diverse boroughs, so too does NYC Pride bring together our diverse LGBTQ community. What better representation of that connectedness than to light our bridges in the colors of our Pride Flag."



New York Harbor of Lights



On April 27, the Governor premiered the "New York Harbor of Lights" following the grand opening celebration of the first span of the Kosciuszko Bridge – the first new bridge constructed in New York City since the Verrazano Bridge in 1964. The spectacular light show, which was coordinated with lights on the Empire State Building and synchronized to music airing on multiple iHeartRadio stations, marked the first performance in "The New York Harbor of Lights." Building on the state’s burgeoning tourism industry, the multi-color LED light shows will transform New York's magnificent structures into world-renowned tourist attractions, drawing even more visitors to the Empire State and driving the economy of the metropolitan area.



In addition to the Kosciuszko Bridge, aesthetic LED lighting will be installed on all seven MTA-operated bridges and tunnels by May 2018, including:

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

RFK Triborough Bridge

Whitestone Bridge

Throgs Neck Bridge

Queens Midtown Tunnel

Hugh L. Carey Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge

Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

Henry Hudson Bridge