NYC Council Member Stevens, Council Member De La Rosa, and LBGTQ youth organizations will celebrate 175 years of the historical Highbridge Connector with a Pride Event during Bronx Pride Week
New York, NY – Council Member De La Rosa and Council Member Althea Stevens hosted the inaugural Pride Ball on the historical Highbridge Connector in partnership with Destination Tomorrow and La Sala LGBTQ Youth in Center. The Pride Ball served to celebrate Pride Month and marks the 175th anniversary of the Highbridge. The longest runway in New York City allowed the ballroom and voguing scenes that are emblematic of the LGBTQIA+ community to be showcased on the biggest stage while connecting the Bronx and Upper Manhattan communities.
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Several honorees were presented with citations from the City Council for their service to the community: Kelvin Castellanos, Nova Stark, Nathan Hunter, and Nia Reid. Sage Rivera, Director of Programs for Destination Tomorrow, was awarded a proclamation for their work in both the Bronx and Manhattan. Rivera was the main organizer of the Pride Ball on the Highbridge and the originator of the idea.
Renowned international ballroom figure, Lawrence Taylor, known as Snookie Lanore, served as the host, leading the competitions of different categories. The categories included popular ballroom categories including Face, New York Fashion, Runway, and Pride Performance, and different ballroom “houses” from across the city came out to compete. Councilmembers De La Rosa and Stevens served as judges alongside other prominent members of the ballroom scene.
La Sala and Destination Tomorrow are the only two LGBTQIA+ centers in both boroughs combined, serving thousands of at-risk youth and providing support to the community that often is put on the margins. This year marks the first year this event takes place, and there is an intention of making it an annual experience with the collaboration of elected officials and major LGBTQIA+ organizations.
“Our LGBTQIA+ community has a long history of social justice advocacy, cultural creation, and civic engagement in our city. We have long fought for the right to love freely and express ourselves without persecution,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (District 10). “In a national and global climate that threatens our ability to do so, it remains vital that we celebrate Pride loudly, continue to push for full human rights and equality, and fight injustices and prejudice at every turn. We are proud to support the efforts of organizations like La Sala and Destination Tomorrow, and the Pride Ball on the Highbridge became a historic piece of the larger picture.”
“It is an honor to witness the uplifting of LGBTQIA+ people of color. To see trailblazers like Council Members De La Rosa and Stevens do it with grace and authenticity is beyond impactful,” said Sage Rivera, Director of Programs for Destination Tomorrow. “I’m filled with gratitude – this event is HERstoric!”
