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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123
ESM Productions Selected as Producer National LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony
Nationally Prestigious Producer of Large-Scale Events
June 4, 2015 Philadelphia, PA - Organizers of the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration today announced that ESM Productions has been selected as the producer of the one-hour National LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony, July 4, at Independence Hall. Wanda Sykes is the Ceremony’s MC.
Said Malcolm Lazin, Chair of the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration, “Having ESM produce the Ceremony sends a message to our community that the ceremony will be first class and assures broadcasters that all their tech needs will be met.”
ESM Productions has produced some of the most high-profile, large-scale events across the nation. ESM produced the 50th Anniversary March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial and was named the Executive Producer of the World Meeting of Families – Papal Visit.
In September, ESM will produce events for the World Meeting of Families - Pope Francis visit, which is expected to draw over a million attendees.
The organized LGBT civil rights movement was galvanized when activists from New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia staged demonstrations at Independence Hall for equality each Fourth of July from 1965 to 1969. When 40 activists picketed in front of Independence Hall in 1965, it was the largest demonstration for gay equality in world history.
Organized by Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings, the father and mother of the LGBT civil rights movement, these “Annual Reminders” laid the groundwork for the Stonewall riot in 1969. After Stonewall, the Gay Pioneers suspended the Annual Reminders and turned their energies to help organize the 1970 march from Greenwich Village to Central Park marking the first anniversary of Stonewall.
From July 2 to 5, in Philadelphia, the National LGBT 50th Anniversary Celebration includes panels, "Gay Pioneers" screening, fireworks, daily parties, six LGBT history exhibits, concerts, National Interfaith Service, wreath laying at the Gay Pioneers historical marker, and a street festival in the gayborhood with the highlight the one-hour National LGBT 50th Anniversary Ceremony on a large stage in front of Independence Hall on July 4th with Wanda Sykes as the Master of Ceremonies.
There is no registration fee and most programs are free.
For more information, visit www.lgbt50th.org and www.gaypioneers.com.
About ESM Productions:
ESM Productions is a premier, full-service event production company that specializes in the creative design, planning and execution of high-profile events and productions. EMS supplies the innovative expertise, resources and state-of-the-art technology to meet a wide variety of production needs and challenges. EMS was founded by Scott Mirkin in 1996. Mr. Mirkin has become one of America’s most successful event producers and a pioneer in large audience and high-quality live streaming events. Mr. Mirkin has been responsible for promoting a wide array of important political icons, religious figures, and entertainment moguls as varied as President Barack Obama, the Pope and Jay Z.
