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Puerto Vallarta and New York City have formalized a historic sister city agreement between Vallarta Pride and NYC Pride, establishing a binational partnership to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, cultural exchange, tourism, and human rights.
The signing ceremony took place in Manhattan as part of NYC Pride 2025, one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the world and the birthplace of modern Pride marches. Past editions of the celebration have drawn crowds ranging from 2 million to 4 million people, positioning the event as a global platform for visibility, remembrance and advocacy for equality.
This partnership outlines a shared agenda between the two cities, focusing on inclusive tourism, community diplomacy and annual joint projects to be overseen by a binational committee. The initiative is supported by the municipal government of Puerto Vallarta and the Consulate General of Mexico in New York.
Key commitments include artist and activist exchanges during each city’s Pride celebrations, mentorship programs and scholarships for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders, and coordinated tourism campaigns to position both destinations as inclusive and world-class LGBTQ+ travel spots.
The effort was led by Puerto Vallarta city councilor Melissa Madero, known for her work in defending LGBTQ+ and human rights. Speaking at the event, Madero emphasized the international significance of the agreement.
“This agreement is more than a document; it’s a bridge between two cities united by values of respect, equality and freedom,” Madero said. “It’s a firm step toward a global agenda of inclusion and culture, built on solidarity. I want to thank our mayor, Luis Ernesto Munguía, for his full support in making this historic agreement possible. This is a shared promise that LGBTQ+ people everywhere deserve to live with dignity. United in purpose and pride.”
The event was attended by NYC Pride co-chairs Michele Irimia and Kazz Alexander, along with Javier Jiménez, president of Vallarta Pride. The Consulate General of Mexico in New York served as an official witness, joined by Michelle Fridman, Jalisco’s Secretary of Tourism, who attended as a guest of honor.
The signing in New York follows an initial ceremony held in May during Vallarta Pride 2025, which marked the largest edition in the city’s history. That event drew more than 30,000 participants to its main parade and generated hotel occupancy rates of more than 80% across nine days of programming.
With this formalized agreement, Puerto Vallarta and New York City position themselves as “sister cities of pride,” committed to safe and responsible LGBTQ+ tourism and united in the global fight for human rights.
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