New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored six New Yorkers at his Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Pride celebration at the LGBT Center on Thursday, June 10 .
Pictured are (. to r.) are: Rev. Pat Bumgardner, pastor, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches; Richard D. Burns, executive director, the LGBT Community Center; John Tartaglia, Tony Award-nominated star of Broadway’s “Avenue Q;” Alan Van Capelle, executive director, Empire State Pride Agenda; Thompson; Barbra Ann Perina, transgender rights activist; Vivian Rodriguez, NYPD detective and president, GOAL-New York; and Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., assistant commissioner, HIV/AIDS Bureau, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Thompson told the gathering, “I am confident that the journey we’re on will lead us to the day when all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression will enjoy the same rights and opportunities. Because now that the door is open, there is no going back. In working towards that day, we know that we have a long way to go. As we move forward, let us draw inspiration from those in the past who refused to be invisible.”
