Honorees, Chasten Buttigieg Highlight Stonewall Bash

The shooting deaths of three transgender women in just five days’ time this month brought hundreds of trans activists, anti-gun advocates, and allies to Washington Square Park on the Friday... Show more

ay evening of Memorial Day Weekend in a Keep Your Hands Off Our Trans Bodies rally called by the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG). The gathering — which was co-supported by several dozen other groups including Black Lives Matter, Black Trans Media, the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, DecrimNY, Equality New York, Gays Against Guns, Harlem Pride, Housing Works, New Alternatives for Homeless LGBT Youth, Queerocracy, the Reclaim Pride Coalition, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the Translatinx Network, and VOCAL-NY — at moments reflected the frustrated anger over an epidemic of violence against transgender women, especially women of color, sweeping the nation. Olympia Perez, the content director of Black Trans Media, castigated groups outside the black transgender women’s community that show up at rallies but do nothing of substance to help. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 26 transgender people died in viole

Numbers Up, Substance Down in LGBTQ Film Representation

Political leaders, LGBTQ activists, and special guest Chasten Buttigieg helped kick Pride season into gear at the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City’s annual event on May 23 at the M1-5 Lounge in Tribeca. Gay Cit... Show more

ity News was among the honorees, along with Andy Marra, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund; Carmen Neely, the president of Harlem Pride and a co-chair of NYC Pride and Power; Tamara Rivera, council representative of the New York City District Council of Carpenters; and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who was unable to attend due to inclement weather in Buffalo that prevented her travel. Current and former out gay elected officials were also on hand, including Manhattan Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, Manhattan State Senator Brad Hoylman, Queens City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, and former Bronx Councilmember Jimmy Vacca. Numerous other elected officials representing virtually every level of government — including Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and Queens Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman — were also in attendance. In honoring Gay City News, Stonewall president Rod Towns

AIDS Walk Raises Over $4 Million

On the surface, it initially might seem encouraging that there was a slight increase — 5.4 percent — in LGBTQ characters in movies produced by major film studios last year. But dig a little deeper and it’s not all that p... Show more

that pretty: LGBTQ characters played key roles in only half of those films, there were fewer queer people of color starring in those roles than in 2017, and there were no trans characters in any of those films, according to GLAAD’s 2019 Studio Responsibility Index report. And while GLAAD counted 45 LGBTQ characters in films last year, they weren’t very visible. A majority of them were seen for less than three minutes and 16 were on screen for under a minute. The lack of racial diversity among LGBTQ characters was just as glaring: There was a 15 percent decrease in LGBTQ characters of color in 2018 when compared to the previous year, with GLAAD noting that less than half of queer characters consisted of people of color. Latinx representation dipped significantly, dropping from 28.5 percent of characters last year to seven percent this year. Animated films, which are popular among younger demographics and can serve as a vehicle through which children can learn about diversity, boas

Schemers and Lovers

In its 34th annual AIDS Walk beginning and ending in Central Park on May 19, Gay Men’s Health Crisis raised more than $4 million to support living-saving services there and at other HIV/ AIDS organizations in... Show more

in the tri-state area. More than 15,000 participants either walked the 10k route through the Upper West Side or ran five miles within the park. Over the course of its 34 years, AIDS Walk has raised more than $160 million. “As we enter the presidential election season, we need to stay focused on how to elevate the issue of ending HIV and AIDS at all levels of government — and hold candidates and elected officials accountable for working with us toward our shared goal of ending the HIV/ AIDS epidemic,” said GMHC CEO Kelsey Louie. Comment on this story.

It Wouldn’t Be Pride Without Queens

By comparison to this year’s utterly misfired “Traviata”, Michael Mayer’s Rat Pack-era, Vegas-set “Rigoletto” (April 26) seemed less offensive — though still there are aspects of the visually neon-lurid story that mak... Show more

story that make no sense. If “the Duke” is a famous headliner, how do Sparafucile and Maddalena not recognize him? Has no one at the hotel or church wondered why the teenage Gilda is not attending school? Does the titular jester-as-Rodney-Dangerfield really believe in curses? In their blatancy, Christine Jones’ sets and Susan Hilferty’s costumes become wearisome. Truly obnoxious — and, like the frequent yellings from the stage, profoundly unmusical — are the slangy, wannabe snarky Met titles, designed for those who can’t or won’t listen to the music. Is that Peter Gelb’s target audience? That said, the Met is doing something right: a youth-aimed “party night” got hundreds of younger people in to see (maybe even to hear?) Verdi’s wonderful score, and they seemed to be having an excellent time. Surely everyone enjoyed the evening’s soprano and tenor. Gilda can be a striking, high-wire Met debut role. Gianna d’Angelo, Mariella Devia, June Anderson, and Sumi Jo all pulled it off, and s

Next Up for Pride: Brooklyn

An official partner of WorldPride, the 27th annual Queens Pride festivities are kicking into gear ahead of the borough’s June 2 parade and festival. Pride season in Queens launched on May 17 with ... Show more

h a successful kickoff event at Katch Astoria, but there is plenty more to do in the weeks ahead. We’ve got you covered with a slate of Pride-related events in the borough. LGBTQ Youth Prom When: Thu., May 30 from 5-8 p.m. Where: New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th St. in Corona. Transportation will be provided to and from the 7 train at the 111th St. station. Under the theme “Honor the past, defend the future,” Queens Pride’s LGBTQ Youth Prom offers an opportunity for those between the ages of 14 and 20 to enjoy an evening of food, music, DJs, giveaways, make-up by MAC, live performances, and a photo booth. Those who are 21 years or older can sign up to volunteer at the event. Find out more information and register at queenspride.org/prom2019. Pre-Pride Breakfast When: Sun., Jun. 2 from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Where: The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights at 37-06 77th St. Join Councilmember Daniel Dromm for a breakfast fundraiser before you march in the Pride Parade. A