Bootleg Betty
Video: Bette Midler Performs At World Pride 2019
By Mister D
June 6, 2026
Bette Midler’s performance of “Friends” at World Pride / Stonewall 50 on June 29, 2019, stands as one of her most intimate, community?centered appearances of the decade. The moment wasn’t a full concert—it was a statement, a reclamation, and a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community that launched her career.
What Happened
Bette appeared at the WE Party: World Pride Main Event at the Javits Center in NYC—an enormous, high?energy circuit party packed with thousands of LGBTQ+ fans. She walked onstage after a video montage honoring Stonewall’s legacy, greeted by a roar of affection.
She performed “Friends” with only her pianist Marc Shaiman—no dancers, no band, no spectacle—just Bette, a mic, and a room full of people who have loved her for 50 years.
Why “Friends” Mattered
A return to her roots — “Friends” was one of her earliest signature songs from her Bathhouse Betty era. Performing it at Stonewall 50 was a full?circle moment.
A tribute to LGBTQ+ history — The event honored the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, and Bette framed the song as a thank?you to the community that shaped her.
A rare, stripped?down performance — In a massive dance?party environment, she chose intimacy over spectacle, speaking directly to the crowd as if they were in her living room.
The Atmosphere
Eyewitness accounts describe:
A 5,000?person crowd packed into the Javits Center
A mix of Stonewall archival footage, celebrity messages, and Pride iconography
A dramatic entrance where Bette interrupts a prerecorded Cher message with a comedic vinyl?scratch gag
A wave of emotion as she dedicated “Friends” to her “long?term friendship with the gay community”
After Her Performance
Bette’s appearance opened the door for a lineup that included:
Billy Porter (surprise performance)
Conchita Wurst
Cirque du Soleil performers
Cyndi Lauper, who also headlined the night
Why This Moment Endures
Bette’s World Pride performance is remembered because it wasn’t about spectacle—it was about belonging. In a night full of lasers, DJs, and high?energy acts, she chose to stand still and sing a song about loyalty, chosen family, and queer history.
It was Bathhouse Betty returning home.
