Sharon Stapel.
PHOTO ESSAY BY DONNA ACETO | In a June 2 ceremony at City Hall, the City Council celebrated LGBT Pride Month by honoring six New Yorkers for their contributions to the community and to New York overall.
The honorees were: Anti-Violence Project executive director Sharon Stapel; Joselyn Mendoza, an undocumented transgender woman from Queens who led the recent #WeCantWait campaign that resulted in the Obama administration moving to protect nearly five million immigrant families; longtime activist Andy Humm, who is a co-host of cable TV’s “Gay USA,” a Gay City News contributor, and a former member of the City Human Rights Commission; Zully Rolan, the director of asset & property management for Fifth Avenue Committee, a South Brooklyn nonprofit community development corporation, who also served for seven years as chair of Brooklyn Pride; Kim Watson, co-founder of Community Kinship Life, which assists affirmed men and women with necessary life skills, medical needs, and counseling; and Kevin Finnegan, the political director for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Finnegan was unable to attend and his award was accepted by former State Senator Tom Duane.
George Takei with Councilmember Corey Johnson.
The Council, led by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and LGBT Caucus members Jimmy Van Bramer, Rosie Mendez, Daniel Dromm, Corey Johnson, Carlos Menchaca, and Ritchie Torres, also honored the Health and Wellness and Internship Programs at the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Joselyn Mendoza.
George Takei, the out gay actor best known for his role as Sulu in “Star Trek,” hosted.
Kim Watson.
Andy Humm.
Zully Rolan.
