Today: NGLCC Rings Closing Bell At NYSE

Representatives of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will ring the stock market's closing bell today in recognition of Pride Month. The market closes at 4pm.

For one special day, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce®, NYSE Euronext, NGLCCNY, Members of Congress, other LGBT advocacy organizations, and corporate champions will gather at The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - to celebrate the global launch of LGBT Pride Month. From Stonewall to Federal Hall will take place on Friday, June 5, 2009, and will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that led to the push for equal rights for LGBT people. The event will include the ringing of the NYSE Closing Bell by the NGLCC, a symposium discussion on the LGBT movement in the 40 years since Stonewall followed by an exclusive cocktail reception on the NYSE Trading Floor. “We are honored to take part in the grand tradition of ringing the Closing Bell for the second time – and to pay tribute to those that have come before us and will come after us in the fight for LGBT equality,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and President Justin Nelson. “The LGBT movement has come a long way in 40 years, and there is no more fitting place than the seat of the financial world to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and to look ahead to tomorrow,” said NGLCC Co-Founder and CEO Chance Mitchell.

Has any other openly gay group run the NYSE bell, or is this a historic first?