Madonna Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Stonewall Inn LBGTQ Gay Rights Events

Madonna launched her role as an ambassador for the 50th anniversary celebrations commemorating riots at New York’s Greenwich Village Stonewall Inn with a New Years Eve drop-in.

Accompanied by her son David Banda on acoustic guitar, the pop star welcomed 2019 in the iconic bar that jump-started the modern LBGTQ movement. Madonna led the crowd in a sing-along of "Like a Prayer" and covered Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love."

"I stand here proudly at the place where pride began, the legendary Stonewall Inn, on the birth of a new year," she said. "We come together tonight to celebrate 50 years of revolution.”

The singer called for peace and understanding in her speech, saying, “If we truly took the time to get to know one another we would find that we all bleed the same color and we all need to love and be loved. Let’s remember who and what we are fighting for — ourselves, for each other, but truly and most importantly, what are we fighting for? Let’s take a minute to reflect on how we can bring more love and peace into 2019, let’s look at how we can bring random acts of kindness. Maybe we can find an opening to bring the light in. Are you ready to do that?"

Madonna At 60 Looks Forward For 'Madonna In Lisbon' In Vogue Italia August 2018

Madonna At 60 Looks Forward For 'Madonna In Lisbon' In Vogue Italia August 2018

Photographers Mert & Marcus move from capturing Oprah on the August issue of British Vogue to Madonna on the August 2018 issue of Vogue Italia. 

Initially, the magazine planned to celebrate Madonna's 60th birthday with a focus on her career and accomplishments, Vogue Italia creative director Giovanni Bianco told WWD in an exclusive interview that included editor-in-chief Emanuele Farneti. Bianco has worked with Madonna for 12 years on four CD covers, multiple tours and countless editorials.

This plan didn't suit Madonna at all, because "She doesn't want to talk about the past." Madonna's plan for her Vogue Italia feature was a focus on her children, her passionate love of music and horses, her projects for charity Raising Malawi and life in Lisbon. 

Celebrating Two New Malawi-Born Daughters, Madonna Releases 'Her-Story' A 12-Minute Film For International Women's Day

Celebrating Two New Malawi-Born Daughters, Madonna Releases 'Her-Story' A 12-Minute Film For International Women's Day

Madonna said her daughters will keep their birth names of Esther and Stella to preserve their identity as Malawians, and a Malawian nanny will travel with the children to the United States to ease their transition, according to the ruling. Her son David Banda and daughter Mercy James are now 11.

Judge Mwale noted that the pop star has raised $7.5 million for her latest project in Malawi, the construction of a pediatric surgery ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. The ward is scheduled to open early next year

Madonna Says 'Dress Up! Speak Up!' In Luigi & Iango's 'Her Story' Film & Harper's Bazaar Germany April 2017 Editorial

Madonna Says 'Dress Up! Speak Up!' In Luigi & Iango Images For Harper's Bazaar Germany April 2017

It's almost 26 years since Madonna released 'Truth or Dare', the pop icon & feminist celebrated International Women's Day with the release of a 12-minute short film 'Her-Story', dedicated "to all women that fight for freedom".

Directed by Luigi & Iango, who lensed her Harper's Bazaar Germany April editorial above, 'Her-Story' opens with audio lifted from Madonna's January 21 Women's March address. “To accept this new age of tyranny where not just women are in danger, but all marginalized people,” Madonna says. “Where being uniquely different might truly be considered a crime. The revolution starts here.”

Short clips of Madonna’s 2012 single “Girl Gone Wild” also play throughout 'Her-Story', which ends as two figures carry a banner reading “We should all be feminists” down a dark alleyway. Madonna’s handwriting ends the film, scrawling the famous Hillary Clinton quote “women’s rights are human rights” in white text.

“Every Woman Has A Story! Don’t be Afraid to Use your Voice! To Help others! celebrate Women around the World!” Madonna wrote on Instagram, where she shared several of 'Her-Story‘s' individual segments. 

Madonna As 'Statue of Liberty' By Michael Forbes Joins Marilyn Minter At Brooklyn Museum Jan. 19

Madonna As 'Statue of Liberty' By Michael Forbes Joins Marilyn Minter At Brooklyn Museum Jan. 19

The black eye is perfect because this is how we feel. Madonna is never one to walk away from controversy, and she was quick to share this new artwork by Scottish artist Michael Forbes. The artist portrays a caricature-like image of the President-elect as 'King Kong Trump' sitting on the head of our beloved Statue of Liberty, personified by Madonna. The human rights icon is holding a sign saying 'Not My President' -- a declaration that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million Americans. 

"After Madonna posted it on Instagram my phone has been ringing repeatedly with people telling me about it," Forbes told the BBC.

(. . . }

Madonna will join artist Marilyn Minter tonight on the eve of the presidential inauguration at a SOLD OUT event at The Brooklyn Museum. 

The two fearless feminist provocateurs will talk art, culture, feminist, and the current state of affairs in America and around the world. Writes the Brooklyn Museum's website: Connecting Madonna, an artist, activist, and philanthropist, with Minter, whose work explores cultural perceptions of women, this unprecedented conversation will highlight the impact of female artists within broader culture and social change. Moderated by poet, essayist, and playwright Elizabeth Alexander and by Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy Director of the Museum.

Tonight's historic event is part of A Year of Yes: Reimagining Feminism at the Brooklyn Museum, a yearlong series of exhibitions and programs celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Museum's Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.

Madonna Smolders In Luigi & Iango High-Drama Images For Harper's Bazaar US February 2017

Madonna Smolders In Luigi & Iango High-Drama Images For Harper's Bazaar US February 2017

Lou Schoof Channels Joan of Arc In Barnaby Roper Images For Models.com

Lou Schoof Channels Joan of Arc In Barnaby Roper Images For Models.com

AOC loves a fierce, Joan of Arc editorial. LoAnd the recollection got us thinking about fishnets. 

Madonna Calls Out Gay Men's Misogyny In Out Magazine April 2015 Interview

Madonna Calls Out Gay Men’s Misogyny In Out Magazine April 2015 Interview

Madonna’s comments echo those of 2015 Academy Awards best supporting actress Patricia Arquette, who was criticised loudly for suggesting that multiple groups — including the LGBT community — must stand for women. The debate became one about intersectionality, political correctness,  and white women high-wage earners and not Arquette’s sound argument that all women are entitled to expect support for women’s rights after so many have stood for LGBT rights.

Madonna's buildOn Alliance Bears Fruit In Malawi

Madonna’s buildOn Alliance Bears Fruit In Malawi

“Because of Madonna and Raising Malawi’s support, we will be able to build schools for children that the rest of the world has left behind.  Generations of children will have access to education and be empowered to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations,” said Jim Ziolkowski, Founder and CEO of buildOn, in his own comments around the collaboration.

An Epic Madonna By Mert & Marcus For Interview Magazine December 2014/January 2015

An Epic Madonna By Mert & Marcus For Interview Magazine December 2014/January 2015

Fishnets & Feminism | Powerful Women Like Our Fishnets Thanks To Madonna, Beyonce, Angelina, Jennifer Lopez & Co

Fishnets & Feminism | Powerful Women Like Our Fishnets Thanks To Madonna, Beyonce, Angelina, Jennifer Lopez & Co with 10 AOC Fishnet Fashion Editorials

Madonna: Glorious, Gorgeous And Vitally Dangerous

Madonna: Glorious, Gorgeous And Vitally Dangerous

Madonna & Steven Klein Release 'Secret Project' Video, Said To Be Women's Rights 'Back of the Bus' No More Anthem

Madonna & Steven Klein Release ‘Secret Project’ Video, Said To Be Women’s Rights ‘Back of the Bus’ No More Anthem

Madonna Tours Rio's Favelas

Madonna Tours Rio’s Favelas

Madonna at 50 | Too Hot for Matt Haber & Robin Givhan to Handle

Madonna at 50 | Too Hot for Matt Haber & Robin Givhan to Handle