Rally In Queens Against Transgender Hate Crimes

Yesterday, I participated in a protest rally in support of two transgendered women, Leslie Mora and Carmella Etenne, who were brutally attacked during the past month in the borough of Queens. The rally, organized by local LGBT leader Brendan Fay, drew other LGBT leaders such as Melissa Sklar, openly gay City Council candidate Daniel Dromm, plus City Councilman and Public Advocate candidate Eric Gioia. All voiced their ongoing support for an end to violence against transgenders, gays, and lesbians. Other important speakers inclided FIERCE founder and transwoman Julienne "June" Brown and representatives from Make The Road, a Bushwick LGBT-rights organization.



Thanks to DJ Baker, here are videos of some of the Rally speakers, and their important message to STOP THE HATE, NOW!


Julienne Brown speaks:



Make The Road:



I interviewed Julienne "June" Brown for The Rainbow Collective






Stay tuned. There will be more on this developing story later today. Thanks to all who came out to help end the senseless violence against our LGBT community.

Justicia, Si! Homofobia, No!

Last Saturday, I participated in the GLOBE/Make The Road NY Pride March Against Hate Crimes. The weather could not dampen our resolve to demonstrate against hate crimes that have plagued the LGBT community in Bushwick and around the city. We made our presence known so that everyone could see that we are united in our determination to free our community and society from bigotry and ignorance. Recent incidents includethe beating of two lesbians in Brooklyn by NYPD officers yelling anti-gay slursoutside a Brooklyn club, the near-fatal beating of a man thought to be gay by his attackers, recalling the murder of Jose Sucuzhanay last December in Bushwick, by two men who though he and his brother were gay. The picture below is from the Vigil and March organized by GLOBE (Gays And Lesbians Of Bushwick Empowered) in response to that horrific tragedy.



I was privileged to take part in that vigil. Again, weather, in this case, the cold of winter, did not hamper our will to refute hatred and homophobia. GLOBE has been a powerful force in raising awareness of homophobia and its impact on the LGBT community and society at large.

At Satuday's March, about 160 participants braved the elements (I'm in the center of the top photo, in the blue poncho) and thundered through the streets of Bushwick. I was joined by DJ Baker, Swanny River, and NYC Socialites promoter Eric Parker. Our Cry was for justice, not homophobia, for understanding, not hate, and it was a rousing success. The people of Bushwick came out of their homes and businesses along our route to encourage and support us. Justicia, Si! Homofobia, No!