Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 24 hosted the annual Pride Month Celebration honoring members and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens.
The event provided food from White Castle; performances by dancers, bands and rappers; and freebies from MetroHealth Plus and Legal Services NYC. The Pride Month Celebration was sponsored by MetroHealth Plus and Ponce Bank.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 24 hosted the annual Pride Month Celebration honoring members and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens. Photo by Alice Moreno
“Our LGBTQ+ communities know a little something about comebacks. About being doubted, being underestimated, being told to wait your turn — and showing up anyway, fighting anyway, winning anyway,” said Richards. “So tonight, we celebrate. We are closing out Pride Month exactly the way it should be closed — together, in community, in joy.”
The event opened with a performance by Brooklyn based folk-pop trio Camp Bedford. Then, they held a “Gay Sports Trivia,” asking questions related to Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins (the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American sports leagues), the hit TV show “Heated Rivalry,” and the namesake of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 24 hosted the annual Pride Month Celebration honoring members and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens. Photo by Alice Moreno
Afterwards, Adam Basco Mahieddine and Sundari the Indian Goddess performed separate cultural dance routines, mesmerizing the audience with their powerful moves. Sundari the Indian Goddess danced with the LGBTQIA+ and the transgender flag, showing her support for the community. The dance routine followed by a performance by Finn Caroll, who performed the song “Lush Life” on the cello.
Five local LGBTQIA+ community members were honored for their contributions and service for fighting for equal rights and diversity in the workforce and beyond. Honorees included Voces Latina; ACLU Deputy Director of Leadership Gifts Mark Burhmester; Artistic Director of Culture Lab LIC Tess Howsam; and Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Glenn D. Magpantay.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. on June 24 hosted the annual Pride Month Celebration honoring members and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community at Borough Hall in Kew Gardens. Photo by Alice Moreno
The highest award honored is the Cecilia Gentili Community Champion award. Gentili, who passed away in 2024, was an advocate for the rights of transgender people and sex workers. The award went to Tabytha Gonzalez, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Destination Tomorrow. The event concluded with a performance by rapper David Sincere, hyping up the audience with his rhymes.
Earlier this month, QBP Richards also held a flag raising ceremony in honor of the start of Pride month. They raised the Pride flag alongside the Progress Pride flag, an updated version of the pride flag that represents transgender community (blue, white and light pink colors), and people of color (brown and black colors).
“Our LGBTQ+ community still faces real threats, real attacks on dignity and protection. But if this summer has taught us anything, it is that this city does not back down, and neither does Queens. We are going to keep bringing LGBTQ+ voices into this office, onto our community boards, into every decision that shapes this borough,” said Richards. “That is not just a promise. That is what we do. So tonight — let’s celebrate this Pride Month. Let’s honor the people who earned it. And let’s walk into the rest of this summer like champions, because in Queens, that is exactly what we are.”