Bubly sparkling water, a year-round ally of the LGBTQ+ community, is back with Pride to celebrate the revival of NYC nightlife. The brand released an uplifting video, which embodies the joy New Yorkers felt after emerging from lockdown.
Directed by Austin Nunes for Out and bubly.
The video, part of the brand's Out at Night campaign, features a diverse cast of local NYC nightlife staples and innovators leading the charge as revelers step back out to the dancefloor.
The NYC LGBTQ+ nightlife staples featured in this video are none other than:
Aquaria, season 10 winner of RuPaul's Drag Race
Gia Love, trans activist, actress, model, and icon in the Kiki ballroom scene
Lisa Cannistraci, owner of the iconic lesbian bar Henrietta Hudson
Terence Edgerson, promoter and nightlife staple
Ty Sunderland, DJ, event producer, and activist
The Out at Night video takes viewers on a journey through New York - celebrating iconic moments, shining a light on those who make local nightlife so special, and reuniting at last for a twirl on the dancefloor.
"I am in my element any time I get to celebrate myself, my chosen family, and my community under the disco ball. The fact that bubly chose to highlight the emotion and excitement of finally being able to experience this again really gives me so much hope for the future of nightlife in general," Aquaria shares.
The video was directed and shot by Austin Nunes, a local queer director and frequent bubly collaborator. It's set to the sounds of "Higher" by singer-songwriter Vincint.
Through bubly's Out At Night campaign - and to further strengthen NYC nightlife's return to glory and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole -- bubly will be making a $15,000 donation to the historic Henrietta Hudson, one of only 15 remaining lesbian bars in the entire country.
"In supporting Henrietta Hudson, bubly is supporting not just a space for the LGBTQ+ community to safely gather but it also allows us to stand as a pillar of queer endurance," says owner Lisa Cannistraci. "We have stood for 30 years and plan to stand for at least 30 more. We can't do that alone - we need to come together (safely) to not only keep our space alive but to inspire more."
"bubly has been a vocal and continued ally to the LGBTQ+ community since its inception, which is why we are so proud to continue that legacy by celebrating, supporting and providing a year-long platform to the people that bring New York City's nights to life, especially after a year that has been so hard on everyone," says Matthew Conrado, a senior analyst for PepsiCo North Division Brand Marketing.
"NYC nightlife is revolutionary for a lot of queer people - as a Black trans woman, when I didn't feel the best about myself and during times at which the world was against me, I looked to nightlife and what I represented in nightlife as a force to keep going to and know that I was worthy and know that I am enough," says Gia Love.
"It helped build my self-esteem because a lot of times as you're coming out and presenting yourself in your fullness, you are being affirmed by the different compliments and the engagements socially that are taking place in these spaces," Love continues. "As you come out more and more and keep having these experiences it shows you that you are important to a lot of these ecosystems that exist within nightlife."
"Nightlife is my home" Ty Sunderland shares. "It's my chosen family. It's my living room and my golf course at the same time. It allowed me to become what I always saw for myself but couldn't figure out how it was possible."
COVID-19 brought nightlife and the ability to gather as a community to a screeching halt. But as we step out of our quarantine bubbles and are able to gather safely again, the mood is shifting and excitement is growing.
"Over the past year, between temporarily being out of touch with my nightlife community and being forced to pivot my drag to a more digitally focused format, there was a very palpable sense of loss and yearning," Aquaria adds. "The return of nightlife in New York City means the world to me. It means the opening of safe spaces with eccentric and welcoming communities where LGBTQ+ people can find themselves -- as well as lose themselves-- to the rhythm of the dancefloor. After being told for a year that New York City is dead, I think it's safe to say that the absurd and sensationalist headlines of 2020 can kick rocks because baby, we're about to be back and better than ever!"
"bubly is not only creating visibility through this program but also giving back with this assistance" Terence Edgerson says. "It's not everyday you see such a diverse group of queer people represented and you see nightlife valued and appreciated, it's going to have a domino effect when other queer people see it and see themselves in it and see the possibilities."
The colorful, celebratory, and showstopping collaboration with New York City's nightlife innovators and bubly during this landmark Pride month highlights the resilience, innovation, and the strong bonds of the queer community, as well as the important role that nightlife plays in it.
LGBTQ+ "reuniters" across the city will also have the chance to celebrate their Pride and win one of three VIP bubly Pride experiences. Fans simply need to show bubly their Pride using the hashtag #bublyoutatnightNYC on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (official rules here - must reside in NY, NJ or CT, 21+) to enter for a chance to win one of three epic experiences:
- A plot at The Greens Rooftop at Pier 17 for drag brunch featuring Lagoona Bloo and other NYC queens
- VIP treatment at the bubly Night Out party at PHD Rooftop at Dream Downtown
- A weekend stay at the new Rainbow Suite by bubly at the Foxwoods Resort Casino
Be sure to join in the celebration by watching the video, grab your favorite flavor of bubly sparkling water, and meet us on the dancefloor! bubly Out at Night awaits...
