2015 Pride Guide

44 Pages·2015·2.53 MB·English

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Brooklyn Pride Mission Statement
The mission of Brooklyn Pride, Inc. is to produce
Pride and community events that commemorate,
educate, promote and celebrate the spirit of the
Stonewall Riots. This is a year round endeavor, cul-
Brooklyn Pride minating with an Annual 5K Run, Multicultural Fes-
PO Box 150508 • Brooklyn, NY 11215
tival; Parade and After-Pride Parties.
718-928-3320
[email protected]
A significant percentage of the net proceeds from
www.BrooklynPride.org
these events are invested to support other organ-
Connect With Us! izations and events that celebrate the strength, di-
Facebook: BrooklynPrideInc versity and reaffirm the value of all LGBT
Twitter: @brooklyn_pride Brooklynites; groups and all others who support
Instagram: brooklyn_pride the struggle for equal rights.
Brooklyn Pride is the premier LGBT community
Board of Directors
based-service organization in Brooklyn, serving
Chair the neighborhood communities, from Bath Beach
to Wingate.
Mickey Heller
Treasurer PARADE PARTICIPANTS
Jerry Allred
as of print time...more to come!
Secretary
Tyler Evertsen AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Ali Forney Center
Volunteer Coordinator Antique Automobile Association of Brooklyn
Jamie Farnam Bogota Latin Bistro
Brightpoint Health
Board Members Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Mohammad Hamad CAMBA
Kendra Kovarik Cheer New York
Chip Shop
Rio Sherry
5th Brooklyn Scouts
Pride Guide FDNY
Front Runners NY
Editors: Mickey Heller & Kendra Kovarik Gay Men of African Decent - GMAD
Design and Layout: Rori Baldari Gay Men’s Health Crisis-GMHC
Gingers Bar
Production: Signature Litho, Inc.
Greenpoint Reformed Church
Cover Design: Rowan Foley
Kings County Democratic Party
Graphics: Rori Baldari, Rowan Foley, Lambda Independent Democrats
Julio Castro Lesbian Herstory Archives
Metropolitan Community Church of NY
New York City Council
The Brooklyn Pride Guide is published by Brooklyn Pride, 92.3 AMP Radio
Inc. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertising con- Public Advocate Tish James
tents in any manner without the permission of Brooklyn Queens Pride
Pride, Inc. is strictly prohibited. Publication in the Queer Pratt
Newsletter or Guide of the name or photograph of any Rainbow Heights Club
person or organization is not to be construed as any in-
Red Umbrella Project
dication of sexual orientation or opinions of said person
Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club
or organization. Brooklyn Pride, Inc. shall not be held re-
South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association -SALGA
sponsible for any typographical or reproduction errors
provided by the advertisers. Tarab NYC
The Imperial Court of New York
© 2015 Brooklyn Pride, Inc., Brooklyn, New York Xstasy Bar and Lounge
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MESSAGES FROM THE BOARD
Mickey Heller
Chair
For the last seven years, I
have been honored to have
been involved with this in-
credible, all-volunteer or-
ganization, serving as
co-chair and chair for the
port and tireless giving to the entire community.
past four. There is so much
To our sponsors, volunteers, participants and
involved in putting on Pride
friends, you are all vital parts to the Brooklyn Pride
Week and that can only be
Family and help to make us who we are.
accomplished by dedicated and hard-working indi-
For all those reading this, please support the
viduals, organizations and businesses, giving of their
businesses and organizations you see in the Pride
time, talents and treasury year-round.
Guide and throughout Brooklyn Pride. Because of
First Tuesday’s “Dine With Pride” provides a
their support, we are able to continue to provide
monthly opportunity to come together and share
an incredible week of events and expand through-
a meal and conversation at supporting restaurants
out the year.
throughout Brooklyn, and partnering with the 5th
Finally, welcome home Oluyai. I look forward
Avenue BID during the December holiday season
to the journey we are pursuing together. You keep
are just two ways that we show our “Pride”
me grounded while we fly together, and I am proud
throughout the year. Of course everything culmi-
to identify with you. You bring me such peace when
nates with Brooklyn Pride Week, which takes the
storms come.
entire year to plan and produce.
Thank you all and God Bless!
There are so many people to thank, starting
with an incredible board of directors. Jerry, three
Jerry Allred
years on the board, and many years as friends, you
continue to teach and share your incredible wealth Treasurer
of knowledge. Tyler, our second year on the board It is hard to imagine that
together has made me appreciate you both even 19 years has passed since
more for your dedication and work ethic. Jamie, a hand full of others and I
you started last year with the Kid’s Space, joined founded Brooklyn Pride.
the board this year, and you continue to show your To see what it has be-
passion for this organization that is only surpassed come amazes and pleases
by your excellent work. You are a joy to work with. me. We of course could
Rio and Mohammad, last year’s stage managers, you have not done this with-
both came onto the board and continue to bring out your support and the support of our many
new ideas and views helping Brooklyn Pride move sponsors over the years. I want to applaud the
forward. Kendra, your keen insight and ideas are many board members that have served on this
helping us to expand and do even more for the board over the 19 years. Without your dedication
community. Thank you all! and patience, we would not be where we are
Our graphic artists, Rori, Rowan and Julio con- today. And of course I would never want to leave
tinue to amaze with their talent. Rowan, the cover out our tireless volunteers, who put in so many
is incredible. Rori, you continue to put together a hours to make this look so good and run so
beautiful Pride Guide and Julio, your designs and smoothly. If you run across one of our volunteers
event ads are wonderful. You have all been there or know one of our current or past board mem-
for last minute calls or e-mails for help and Brook- bers be sure and thank them.
lyn Pride is very grateful to all of you. As many of you know, after 13 years or service,
Michael, at AHF, you became involved three I retired from working at Brooklyn Borough Hall
years ago and by AHF’s generosity, you have helped as your LGBTQ liaison under the leadership of
us go to new levels. Congratulations to our well- former Borough President Marty Markowitz and
deserving Grand Marshals of 2015 for your sup- current President Eric Adams. It was time to pass
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the reigns onto someone else. I hope that you all that goes along with it. She would also like to give a
enjoy the week long events we have planned for special thank you to her loving partner, Thomas, for all
you. If not, come and get involved and let your his support, love, and assistance.
voice be heard. We always need new members
and ideas. Mohammad
Hammad
Tyler Evertsen
Mohammad Hammad joined
Secretary the Board of Brooklyn Pride
Tyler Evertsen is a native New in February, 2015. He moved
Jerseyan who presently resides to New York in the fall of
in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Having 2013 to pursue graduate
obtained an MSW from NYU, studies in Sociology at The
an MBA from AIU and currently New School. He makes an ef-
working on his PhD. in Educa- fort to stay informed and
tion from Walden University, he is also a college pro- proactive as an organizer on
fessor teaching social science courses. His limited issues of social (in)justice, es-
spare time is spent advocating for HIV/AIDS causes as pecially those facing the United States and Middle East,
well as other LGBT non-profits. As his alter-ego, Tyler and has served on numerous academic panels. Mo-
Alyxander, he is kept quite busy. hammad is currently an Adjunct Professor at York Col-
lege in Jamaica, NY and uses that role as a platform to
Jamie Farnam empower students, both intellectually and socially. He
Jamie Farnam is a Jersey girl currently lives in Downtown Brooklyn and enjoys
transplanted to Brooklyn good local food and long walks, when the weather per-
seven years ago. She cur- mits.
rently resides in Park Slope
and loves how eclectic the Rio Sherry
borough’s neighborhoods The Rochester, New York
are. She is a non-profit native moved to the New
professional dedicated to LGBTQIA+ causes and is so York City area in 2000 to
excited to have been able to merge these two passions obtain his B.A. degrees in
working and serving on the board of Brooklyn Pride, Sociology and Psychology
Inc. in its 19th year. She wishes to say a huge Thank from Manhattan College.
You to all of the volunteers and supporting partners Rio has volunteered in the
and a giant XO to Jeana P for all of her love and sup- LGBTQIA+ community
port. Can’t wait to see what Brooklyn Pride 20 has with various organizations
to offer!!! such as the Ali Forney Center and DapperQ, and
is active in the bustling social scene. Rio hopes to
Kendra Kovarik help increase Brooklyn Pride's reach throughout
Kendra Kovarik is very ex- all the Brooklyn neighborhoods, as well as expand
cited to be a new board visibility and education of issues effecting the
member for Brooklyn Pride trans* and queer communities.
19! Kendra moved across the (Photo Credit: Allison Specketer) s
country to Crown Heights,
Brooklyn from Tucson, Ari-
zona four and a half years ago.
In addition to her involvement with Brooklyn Pride,
she is currently the chair of her company’s LGBTA+
community service subcommittee. In this position, she
advocates for and works with various LGBTQIA+ or-
ganizations around the city. In her free time, she plays
bass in a band called Golden Alphabet.
Kendra would love to thank her fellow board mem-
bers for their friendship, support, and selfless dedica-
tion to the rich tradition of Brooklyn Pride week and Kings County Pipes and Drums
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