The inaugural “Norwood Pride” festival took place on Sunday, June 23, in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood. Its launch was rather ceremonious in that not only did local elected officials, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), and City Council Member Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), show up to celebrate with the local community, but so too did Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

 

Pride Month is celebrated nationally in June to commemorate the years of struggle for civil rights dating back to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Joining principal organizers of the event, Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) and the Jerome Gun Hill BID, the three elected officials who, along with Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. (A.D. 80), were among the long list of event sponsors, braved the sweltering heat which hovered at around 100 degrees on the day, delivering jubilant remarks to mark the historic occasion.

Gibson kicked off the formalities, saying, “You should know that I am proud to represent this great borough, but I’m also proud to be an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community,” the borough president said. “Earlier this month, we raised the Pride flag at Borough Hall. It will be up all month, for the whole month of June, to recognize the incredible accomplishments of so many of our LGBTQIA brothers, sisters, and siblings.”

 

At that flag-raising event which took place on June 3, the borough president presented awards to Javier Medrano, director of Latino & LGBTQ+ Affairs for New York State Attorney General Letitia James; Clarisa Alyateo, manager of Community & Government Affairs at DREAM Charter School; and the ally award was presented to Gary Axelbank, host of BronxTalk on BronxNet Television.

Back in Norwood, Gibson also referenced the Bronx Pride March, which had taken place the previous day, Saturday, June 22, and which began at 161st Street and the Grand Concourse, and continued through 149th Street, before heading east to 3rd Avenue and 149th Street. Officials from Gibson’s office said the march / parade was organized to increase the visibility and representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bronx County, while also celebrating diversity, and achievement throughout New York City.

 

It was followed by a Bronx Pride Festival along Westchester Avenue, off 3rd Avenue, hosted by Destination Tomorrow, the Bronx’s designated LGBTQ+ center, and featured the world-famous freestyle sensations, The Cover Girls, whose hits and fan favorites during the 1980s and 1990s included, “Show Me,” “Because of You,” “Promise Me.” Axelbank served as Grand Marshal for the parade this year. 

Continuing her address in Norwood, Gibson continued, “Even with all the progress we have made, we still have a mighty long way to go. Our LGBT community still faces discrimination, unemployment, and housing instability. We proudly stand on the shoulders of those who have paved the way for us, and so we say, ‘thank you’.”

 

As of July 7, year-to-date hate crimes across The Bronx are up by 27.3% compared to the same time last year (14 v 11), while those for the 28-day period ending on July 7 across The Bronx are down by 100%, compared to the same timeframe last year (0 v 1). Hate crime statistics can include crimes based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other reasons.

The latest available citywide May 2024 hate crime statistics, shared by the NYPD, showed that hate crimes based on sexual orientation were up 125% compared to the same timeframe last year. Meanwhile, the Innocence Project reported on June 27 that LGBTQ+ people are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal legal system. The full article can be read here.

 

Gibson ended her remarks with a call for celebration, before introducing Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), who broadly represents the northwest Bronx. “We stand on the shoulders of those that came before us,” he said. “Our older adult LGBTQ community, I want to give you a special round of applause [for] what you have seen over the years. You have seen struggle, but you have seen immense progress for our LGBTQIA+ community, and that is thanks to all of you standing up, proud and fighting for your rights, sometimes your right to simply exist as who you are, to love who you love, to be who you are.”

Dinowitz went on to describe his time as a public-school teacher, before he became a council member, and how it was already difficult being a highschooler, but even more difficult, a queer highschooler. “A few months back, I stood with the LGBTQIA+ caucus in the New York City Council here in The Bronx, where they held a round table for the Marsha and Sylvia plan to hear directly from the affected communities of what, how you would like to see our city,” Dinowitz said.

 

A veteran of the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising, Sylvia Rivera was a tireless advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, as was Marsha P. Johnson. Dinowitz added, “How should we do things differently? What programs should be funded? I am proud to be in a city council that commits hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am a proud sponsor of this event. I am proud to support the LGBTQIA+ community day in and day out as your city council member.”

For his part, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 31), who also represents the northwest Bronx, among other areas of the borough, highlighted the momentous occasion of the inaugural Norwood Pride Festival. “I know this is the first one,” he said. “I know it will not be the last. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate our community, our neighbors, to be able to say to everybody, you are loved, you are respected, you are embraced. You are who you are; we love who you are.” Rivera expressed his pride in passing legislation for marriage equality in 2011 in New York State, referencing a couple from Florida whose marriage he officiated.

 

“So they [the couple] came up to New York and they said, “Would you do us the honor of marrying us right in front of [the] Stonewall [Inn]? And we did! They got married in front of Stonewall. I signed that marriage certificate, and they have that official wedding. They went back and they have a beautiful family, and that’s the type of thing that we are celebrating today, the fact that you are who you are. We love you. We appreciate you. We respect you. And I will continue to be with you.”

To mark the occasion, the Williamsbridge Oval was decorated with an abundance of colorful balloons, flags and a “Pride Hall of Fame” display curated by the Bronx Historical Society showing some of the historical pioneers and activists who fought for LGBTQIA+ rights down through the years, and who were either from The Bronx or had Bronx connections. These included Sylvia Rivera, James Baldwin, Mabel Hampton, Jesús Lebrón, Charles Rice Gonzalez, Arthur Avilés, Urayoan Noel, Dominique Jackson and Cecilia Gentili

 

Various organizations, including Destination Tomorrow, SOMOS LOUD, VNS Health, and more tabled at the event under tents which were dotted across the park, while in another tent at a nearby court, attendees could pick up free refreshments and cupcakes after receiving a ticket from the Jerome Gun Hill BID tent.

Attendees were able to sign up for information from these organizations, as well as collect pamphlets regarding healthcare (i.e. STI testing, etc) and health insurance, as well as safety and support. Drag queens took to the stage during the event, interacted and sang with a group of kids, there were other musical performances, a DJ, and lots of fun games and activities. Upbeat music could be heard throughout the day over several speakers, and the 52nd Precinct’s LGBTQ+ Outreach Unit also had a tent set up, along with a police vehicle decked out in rainbow lettering, decals, and lights. [Meanwhile, CNN have reported that NYC Pride parade organizers continue to ban the NYPD from its events until 2025.]

 

The U.S. Social Security Administration also celebrated Pride Month. “We are proud to highlight the resources available on our LGBTQI+ webpage, which provides information on Social Security’s programs and services tailored to meet the needs of LGBTQI+ people and their families” they said. “This includes information about benefits for same-sex couples and self-attestation of gender identity in Social Security records. These resources are essential for ensuring the LGBTQI+ community can access the benefits and services they deserve.” The department’s commitment to the LGBTQI+ community blog post can be read here.

Elsewhere, throughout the month of June, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) also celebrated the history and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in the botanical world, both online and onsite. Visitors were invited to explore the significance of flowers to LGBTQ+ history and more at nybg.org.

 

A Pride Night event at the Garden was also held on Friday, June 14, which offered twilight viewing of select features of NYBG’s Wonderland: Curious Nature exhibition, a one-of-a-kind botanical experience, inspired by the beloved classics “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There,” which came to life after hours in and around the iconic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Meanwhile, as per this previously published op-ed,, AJ Ramos, who also attended the event, alleged that ahead of the Norwood Pride festival, a group of young people filmed themselves destroying the rainbow balloons and decor which the organizers had placed at the archway entrance to the Oval on the day. “Norwood, The Bronx, and Bainbridge is not the place for hate crimes,” Ramos wrote. “Outside is for everyone.”

 

Ramos confirmed to Norwood News that he did not report the incident to police at the time it occurred. He did share some photos with us taken on the day of the Pride event of the people suspected of damaging the Pride display. However, we are precluded from publishing these photos unless they have been identified as suspects by police.

Matthew López-Jensen and his husband, Jesús, were in attendance and were delighted with the event’s success. “We wanted to send a quick note of thanks [..] for the first Norwood Pride [Festival],” they later wrote in part. Since moving to Norwood seven years ago, we’ve always imagined the Oval as a space for a big Bronx Pride event. It is such the perfect spot, one of the few locations in The Bronx with all the necessary facilities, a feeling of safety, good train access and bus lines.”

They added, “The punishing heat certainly made it a challenge and I’m sure cut back on attendance. Next year will be bigger and better. It was profound and uplifting on a number of levels.”

 

To report a hate crime in progress or any emergency, call 911. Non-emergencies should be reported to the local precinct.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.