June 8, 2016: I find myself in New York City, waiting in line to get inside the City Hall, to cover the Celebration of LGBT Pride event as a guest of Ron B’s, SAG-AFTRA member and celebrity host. While waiting for the event to start, I bumped into many friends and individuals I’ve known and admired for many years, including Lady Clover Honey and writer/photographer Michael Luongo, among many others.
The event brought together New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and council members, honoring Jennifer Flynn, Barbra Herr, Ed Garcia Conde, Krystal Portalatin, Charles Rice-Gonzales, and Melissa Sklarz.
Lavender Light gave the opening performance, while New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy van Bramer welcomed everybody to the event. Ron B., emcee, gave the opening remarks. Justice Laboy sang the national anthem. But, in a way, the Kids 4 LGBT Rights Now video presentation from the Earth School, in New York City, ‘stole’ the show offering a refreshing and remarkable view at the history, in particular the LGBT history. And these fantastic kids were at City Hall, receiving standing ovations from the rest of the audience. Daniel Dromm gave the closing remarks. And the event ended with an outstanding performance of Ron B. who is always “Simply the Best.”
Opening remarks:
ALINA OSWALD 