The LGBTQIA+ neighborhood and allies joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards to have fun Queens’ vibrant and various LGBTQIA+ neighborhood on the Helen Marshall Cultural Middle at Queens Borough Corridor on June 13.
Emcees of the Pleasure Month celebration have been Deputy Borough President Ebony Younger and Jonathan Imperial, senior advisor to the Deputy Borough President and LGBTQIA+ liaison, who in contrast the festivities to the Oscars however “with extra sparkle, extra aptitude and higher speeches.”
Gotham Cheer, Hassan, AKA The Bearded Fantastic thing about NYC, David Honest Dance and DJ Nett, Darylin LaFontaine and New York Metropolis’s beloved drum line band, Fogo Azul, entertained the group with dazzling performances.
Queens Borough Corridor has been celebrating Queens Pleasure for over 21 years, and Richards was thrilled to maintain the custom alive.
“We’re going to do it yearly so long as I’m right here,” Richards promised the group.
Richards shared that roundtable discussions with leaders from the LGBTQ+ neighborhood in Might resulted in numerous methods to make sure homosexual and queer people have been “seen and heard.”
“One of many issues I’m proud to announce tonight: we shall be internet hosting the primary LGBTQ+ job honest proper right here at Queens Borough Corridor within the coming months to assist join the neighborhood with much-needed employment alternatives and sources,” Richards shared.
With LGBTQIA+ rights below assault, Richards assured the group that the World’s Borough was a secure refuge for everybody.
“Everyone seems to be welcomed with open arms right here, and we stand united in opposition to hate and bigotry,” Richards emphasised. “I additionally perceive that allyship is essential on this struggle. Collectively, we will be heroes and break down the partitions of hate and bigotry.”
The occasion additionally paid tribute to the legacy of Cecilia Gentili, a transgender and intercourse employees’ rights advocate, who unexpectedly handed away from a suspected overdose of fentanyl-laced heroin on Feb. 6 on the age of 52. Richards declared each third Thursday in June Cecilia Gentili Day.
Richards met Gentili after he was elected Borough President in 2020, and Gentili got here on board to function an advisor on Richards’ transition committee.
“Due to her, I’m higher; this workplace is healthier, stronger,” mentioned Richards, praising Gentili’s tireless work for LGBTQ+ rights, her dedication to social justice, and unwavering assist for marginalized voices.
The inaugural Cecilia Gentili Neighborhood Champion Award went to the Caribbean Equality Project for its dedication and advocacy to the Trans neighborhood.
Mohamed Q. Amin, founder and government director of the Caribbean Equality Venture, mentioned that Gentili left a blueprint for the best way to shield LGBTQ+ immigrants, intercourse employees and the Latin X neighborhood.
“Each single time you point out Cecilia Gentili’s identify, you spend money on LGBTQ immigrants, you spend money on intercourse work, defending intercourse employees, you spend money on trans individuals,” Amin mentioned. “Each single time you point out her identify, you do her work to create sustainability for our neighborhood. From housing to jobs to security, these are all a part of Cecilia’s legacy.”
Queens District Legal professional Melinda Katz pressured the significance of constructing a relationship between the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood and legislation enforcement.
“I actually wished to return by tonight and simply guarantee that the primary time any of you see legislation enforcement will not be within the courtroom,” mentioned Katz.
Katz promised that her workplace would go after anybody who posed a risk to the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood.
“Somebody goes after the neighborhood as a result of they’re LGBT or as a result of they’re trans, we’re going to prosecute,” Katz mentioned.
A number of Queens LGBTQIA+ neighborhood leaders and organizations, together with Roxanne Raquel Cajigas, Jim Burke, Brian Martinez, LGBTQ+ Youth Services at Queens Community House and Love Wins Food Pantry NYC, have been honored for his or her work and activism.
Brian Martinez, proprietor of Fresco’s Cantina in Astoria and co-founder of Astoria Pleasure, which additionally catered the occasion, was honored for making a welcoming house for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood in Astoria.
Martinez grew up within the Bronx however traded his Yankees hat for a Mets hat when he moved to Queens.
“Queens is a very exceptional place not just for its range and meals, but in addition for its inclusion. Since day one, I used to be welcomed and embraced,” Martinez mentioned.
LGBTQ+ Youth Providers at Queens Neighborhood Home was honored for offering training, coaching and outreach providers for LGBTQIA+ Youth. Love Wins Meals Pantry NYC was honored for combating meals insecurity in low-income communities throughout New York Metropolis.
Jim Burke, co-founder of the 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, was honored for his volunteer work operating the biggest and longest open avenue in New York Metropolis.
“We co-founded in Might of 2020. And we’ve been out day-after-day since,” Burke instructed QNS. “We’ve children programming. We educate English. We educate you the best way to register for college. We enable you apply for asylum. We additionally educate you the best way to hula hoop and bike journey. Follow English with you. We do all types of issues.”
Burke was involved in regards to the assaults on homosexual rights across the nation. Burke has been a homosexual rights activist since his teenage years within the early 90s and recalled that an older pal instructed him that the “pendulum swings backwards and forwards.”
“What’s taking place across the nation, the pendulum is swinging within the flawed route,” Burke mentioned. “Persons are frightened, individuals are scared. So it’s actually vital that we do these satisfaction occasions. It’s vital to have fun one another, be a job mannequin and attempt to be on the market loud and proud after we can.”
