Donatella Versace Recalls Brother's Coming Out Story At Stonewall Day

Pride Live’s Stonewall Day Concert presented by United Airlines® and Z100 New York was full of emotions as many stars took to the stage to salute the LGBTQ community on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Among those friendly faces on stage included Donatello Versace, who shared some sentimental words with the crowd, including how her late brother, Gianni Versace, came out to her.

"Over the course of my life, I have had the incredible fortune to travel the world, experience different cultures and met many different and beautiful people. People that have inspired my work, and my life," the 64-year-old fashion designer, who recently became the new Stonewall ambassador, said. "So many have been members of the LGBTQ+ community, and they have added joy, passion, vibrancy, and a sense of belonging to my life. So much so that my team has always been the most diverse and inclusive. Amazing men and women who come from different countries, different backgrounds and ideas."

Versace went on to point out that Italy might be a gay friendly country, but it still suffers from discrimination. "Same sex couples cannot marry, and like so many other Countries across the globe, hate-crimes and violence against LGBTQ+ people are on the rise," she continued. "I grew up with a gay brother. I was the first person he come out to. And I was 11-year-old living in one of the most conservative part of Italy. I did not care who my brother loved. I cared for his well-being, I wanted him to be happy. If a little girl can understand that, surely, we all can try and be more understanding with one another, kinder to one another and embrace who is different from us as a gift, because this person will let us see things from a different point of view."

Pride Live’s Stonewall Day Concert also featured celebrity appearances from Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Chelsea Clinton, Frankie Grande, Bob the Drag Queen, Whoopi Goldberg, Andy Cohen, as well as a string of folks like Geena Rocero, Blossom Brown, Valerie Jarrett, Wilson Cruz and more.

In case you aren't familiar, in the 1960s, it was still illegal in most states to be gay, with no laws protecting LGBTQI people from discrimination. There were no openly gay politicians or pop culture icons in America. The NYPD was notorious for its strict enforcement of anti-gay laws in the 1950s and '60s, and gay clubs in New York were routinely raided by police of the era. Named for the historic Stonewall Inn, where the riots began, the Stonewall uprising is credited with sparking a generation of activism in the LGBTQ community.

With the gay rights movement building momentum in the late-'60s, police raided the Stonewall Inn one night in late-June for the last time. Patrons tired of police harassment resisted officers. Fights between patrons and police broke out. Word spread through the neighborhood that police were trying to shut down the bar and a crowd gathered on Christopher Street outside the Stonewall. Crowds continued to press back against police, igniting a riot that swept through Manhattan. The ensuing six days of disorder and protest, centered around the Stonewall. Weeks later, organizers led a "gay power" march from Washington Square Park to Stonewall that, again, drew hundreds of demonstrators and press coverage in the city.

The following year, June 28, 1970, thousands returned to Greenwich Village for the first Christopher Street Liberation Day march, which morphed into the annual Pride parades celebrated today in cities around the world.

WorldPride 2019 is in full effect and iHeartPride is celebrating the monumental June celebration with all kinds of coverage. iHeartRadio, Z100 New York and 103.5 KTU are Presenting Media Sponsors for NYC Pride and we’re taking the milestone to heart with LGBTQ-focused coverage on everything from entertainment, politics and details on the summer festivities. After all, it does coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Stay tuned for more on World Pride 2019 and keep an eye out for our float in the Big Apple’s all accumulating parade on June 30!

Photo: Rachel Kaplan for iHeartRadio