Co-Hosted by Brooklyn Pride, Inc., Celebration Featured Routine by Gotham Cheer, Inc. and Drag Performance by Jus Jahlisa
BROOKLYN, NY (June 6, 2023) – Last night, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, co-hosted by Brooklyn Pride, Inc., celebrated LGBTQIA+ Pride Month at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The celebration featured lively entertainment by Gotham Cheer, Inc. and a drag performance by Jus Jahlisa.
“Nationwide, our LGBTQIA+ communities are facing political persecution and a rapid erosion of their rights and abilities to be fully and totally themselves. So just as we fight to do better by our queer community here, we’ve got to set an example everywhere,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “As we celebrate Pride Month, we must remember that pride isn’t just an emotion – it’s a motivation. Pride drives us to ensure this borough and this country is a place where everyone can be the most expansive, most free version of themselves without fear or hate. New York City is more than a dot on the map, it’s a centerpoint of the world where people from all over converge and find inspiration. I’m so grateful to everyone who came together to make last night’s celebration possible, and I look forward to working together to ensure this borough is a model nationwide for inclusivity, acceptance, and love for all.”
During the event, Borough President Reynoso awarded a citation to Aundaray Guess, an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community of color who has worked at GRIOT Circle and the Gay Men of African Decent (GMAD), where he expanded HIV education in the community. The Borough President also recognized Drag Story Hour with a proclamation for showing positive and proudly queer role models to our younger generations and transforming libraries, schools, and bookstores into lively and fantastical places. After remarks from Mickey Heller, co-chair of Brooklyn Pride, Inc., Gotham Cheer, Inc. performed, leading guests down to Borough Hall’s rotunda where they were welcomed by a drag performance by Jus Jahlisa.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation provided small bites from Marcey Brownstein Catering and Events. Limited edition Rainbow Rosé Bubbles by House Wine was served, with every $2 for case sold being donated to the Human Rights Campaign. The wine was supplied by Good Wine NYC in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The evening’s celebration was made possible by the partnership of Brooklyn Pride, Inc. and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the support of Brooklyn for All, Inc., and generous sponsorship of Ponce Bank.
“At Ponce Bank, we’ve always been staunch champions of inclusion,” said Carlos P. Naudon, President of Ponce Bank. “Whether it’s helping families and businesses to achieve their financial goals, or coming to the aid of our neighbors most in need, we care deeply about the underserved but highly deserving communities in which we serve. Pivotal in our outreach and relationships in our communities is the concept of inclusion. For us, it means acceptance, understanding, perseverance, and giving each person, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or national origin, the right to thrive. Ponce Bank is proud to be here with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and with all of you to celebrate Pride on this occasion. Please know that you will always have Ponce Bank as a loyal partner.”
ABOUT BROOKLYN PRIDE, INC.
Brooklyn Pride is a wholly volunteer-managed, non-profit organization that strives to increase visibility, acceptance, and inclusion to ensure equality for the LGBTQIA+ Community, honoring the Spirit of the Stonewall Riots. Since 1996, Brooklyn Pride has welcomed the participation of all the residents of Brooklyn and the outer boroughs, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national origin, physical, mental or development disability, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Although Brooklyn Pride’s primary mission is to produce the borough’s annual pride events, the organization actively works to bring pride year-round to every Brooklyn neighborhood.
ABOUT AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
Founded in 1987, AHF began as a network of hospices committed to “fighting for the living and caring for the dying.” Since then, AHF has expanded, turning hospices into healthcare centers, and building a new paradigm for HIV care both in the United States and around the world.
ABOUT GOTHAM CHEER, INC.
Gotham Cheer is a nonprofit adult cheerleading team that was created out of a personal drive to give back to those who are in need, particularly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning homeless or disadvantaged youth. The organization aims to be leaders in the community through volunteer work and community service events.
ABOUT JAHLOVE SERRANO
Jahlove Serrano is a health educator, youth advocate, HIV/AIDS activist, androgynous model, runway coach, Drag Queen, background dancer, and choreographer to the stars. He’s a Guatemalan/American native of Bronx New York. Contracting HIV a couple of days shy of his 16th birthday, he decided to take a leadership role amongst his peers and community to be very public with his HIV status to combat the ignorance and stigma around HIV/AIDS. He’s working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention, outreach, and research. He’s working hard on a global, national, city and local level to address the needs of HIV positive and negative youth.