The New York City Council LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and more) Caucus hosted a pride night at City Hall, honoring long-standing queer activists in the city.
The evening’s events were led by Co-Chairs and Councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Tiffany Cabán, and Speaker Adrienne Adams.
“We celebrate pride to uplift LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers and ensure that they are seen in their fullness. As a government we must be unapologetic in our pursuit of safety and equal rights for all,” said Adams. “That is our purpose, so that everyone can be exactly who we are, especially when trans rights are under attack across the country.”
The caucus honored three Black queer leaders: the Chief Strategy Officer for Hetrick-Martin Institute Soraya Elcock, Reverend Crone Goddess Magora Kennedy, who was present at the first Stonewall Inn Uprising, and Founder and Executive Director for Destination Tomorrow Sean Coleman. They had two drag story hour performers read short children’s books about the pride parade as well.
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“We are fighting for our collective joy,” said Cabán. “We deserve to be safe and healthy enough to have joy, love and to be loved, to become loved. To pass along our stories and usher in the next generation of revolutionaries.”
Kennedy, 84, flamboyant as ever, with a crown and sash and a cane, told the story of the uprising that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969 after a police raid on the gay club. The uprising lasted six days and had violent clashes with the NYPD.
“It was people sick and tired of being sick and tired,” she said passionately. “It was not a riot, it was an uprising.”
The city council also released The Marsha & Sylvia Plan this month outlining a policy agenda to support the city’s growing LGBTQIA+ population, over 700,000 self- identifying adults; it is reportedly the largest LGBTQIA+ population of any U.S. city. More than half identify as white, while 26% identify as Latinx, and 13% identify as Black, said city council.
“New York City is known for its diversity. We are a melting pot, which is supposed to be a place of respect and equality for all, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as we have seen the rise of growing homophobia and transphobia in our own city,” said Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan in a statement. “The Marsha and Sylvia Plan is a step towards where we should be.”
The plan, named after activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, addresses homophobia and transphobia around gender-affirming care for youth, drag story hour readings, and classroom discussions on gender identity or sexual orientation.
It also seeks to protect against out-of-state agencies seeking to prosecute people who received services in New York City, improve Department of Correction (DOC) reentry services for formerly incarcerated LGBTQIA+ members, create a new city office, expand all-gender facilities in public schools, allocate $5 million towards mental health services, $10 million to support nonprofits that specialize in LGBTQIA+ youth housing, and $5 million to aid the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in recruiting more LGBTQIA+ foster parents.
Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.