Announcing the DJ Frankie Knuckles Pride in the Arts & Brenda Howard Community Spirit of Pride Awards


The Center’s Pride Committee is very pleased to announce the recipient of two of its community pride awards this week: The DJ Frankie Knuckles Pride in the Arts Award will be presented to BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts & DanceDJ Frankie Knuckles, who died on March 31st at the age of 59, was a native son of The Bronx who is often referred to as the “Godfather of House Music.” He was an out and proud gay man who was instrumental in popularizing the house genre of dance music, which earned him not only a Grammy Award but induction into the House Music Hall of Fame.

BAAD! was founded in 1998 by Arthur Aviles and Charles Rice-Gonzalez. Its mission is to create, produce, present and support the development of contemporary dance and all creative disciplines with a unique focus on women, People Of Color and the LGBTQ communities. BAAD! also serves as the home of the Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre (AATT) dance company and other artists-in-residence, and has produced numerous shows. It offers two annual concerts produced by AATT, as well as other series such as BAAD! Ass Women, the Boogie Down Dance SeriesOut Like That!, and the BlakTino Performance SeriesBAAD! Eyes is its the visual arts component, which curates visual art exhibitions to coincide with each of BAAD!’s festivals.

Charles Rice-GonzalezCharles Rice-Gonzalez is a native Puerto Rican who was raised in The Bronx. A Distinguished Lecturer at Hostos Community College – CUNY, he has written theatrical works such as Pink JesusThe Artist, and I Just Love Andy Gibb. His award-winning debut novel, Chulito, is about a 16 year old, Latino thug coming out as a gay kid in the South Bronx. Mr. Rice-Gonzalez received an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and he serves on the boards of the Bronx Council on the Arts and the National Association of Latino Art and Cultures.

Arthur AvilesArthur Aviles is an American Bessie Award-winning and NY Times critically-acclaimed dancer and choreographer of Puerto Rican descent who was raised in The Bronx. He is an alumnus of Bard College and became a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, touring internationally for eight years after graduation. He founded the Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre (AATT) in 1996 in Paris, France, and moved the company to The Bronx the same year. Mr. Aviles is the recipient of an Arts and Letters Award from his alma mater, a BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Award from the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA), a PRIDE (Puerto Rican Initiative to Develop Empowerment) Award, a 2004 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, an award from NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson, and a NYC Mayor’s Arts Award.

The Brenda Howard Community Spirit of Pride Award will be presented to Appolonia CruzBrenda Howard (1946-2005) was a bisexual rights activist who often is referred to as the “Mother of Pride” for her work in coordinating a rally along with the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, commemorating the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion. A native daughter of The Bronx, Brenda also created a series of events around Pride Day, which evolved into the month-long pride celebration that is held world-wide every June. She is credited, along with fellow activists Stephen Donaldson and L. Craig Schoonmaker, for popularizing the use of the word “Pride” to celebrate and memorialize these festivities.

Appolonia CruzAppolonia Cruz is an internationally-renown drag entertainer who is considered to be a mother-figure by many in the Bronx, especially those in The Bronx’s drag community and LGBTQ youth. Ms. Cruz dedicates countless hours of her time hosting and performing at events for numerous community-based and nonprofit organizations throughout New York City and beyond. She helped resurrect The Bronx’s pride event in 2000 and co-hosted it from 2006-2013.

In 2012, Appolonia released a song, Who? Ms. Cruz, (produced by DJ Pistolero) that was played across the globe and received international acclaim, notably from Japan and France. For the past eight years she has performed in BAAD!’s annual holiday pageant, Los Nutcrackers: A Christmas Carajo. She has performed and hosted countless festivals, gala fundraisers, and community events, including a RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party.

Appolonia Cruz at the 2010 New York City Wedding MarchAppolonia’s talents are not limited to entertainment. A long-time LGBTQ rights & equality activist, she lead the March for Equality across the Brooklyn Bridge in 2010 and has emceed Marriage Equality New York’s rallies. She also served as grand marshall of the 7th New York City Wedding March. She joined forces with Miss New York 2010/2011, Miss Claire Buffie, to promote marriage equality across New York State.

Next week, the recipient of our Swish Bronx Ally Award will be released, with the recipient of the Rev. Magora E. Kennedy Stonewall Courage Award announced the following week.


Please join us on Saturday, July 19th, from 12 noon until 6 pm at our 2014 Bronx LGBTQ Pride & Health Fair. We will present a total of five awards.

We areDiva Jackie Dupree excited to announce that OsiriStar Records recording artist Jackie Dupree will co-host our pride event this year. Diva Jackie Dupree was a show-stopper at last year’s pride event, and has been a strong supporter and ally of our new Bronx LGBTQ Center. Ms. Dupree hosted our fun-filled Halloween Costume Party last October to rave reviews. She is a member of the Center’s board of directors, and hosts a weekly karaoke night, as well as numerous other shows, events, and performances.

Lesbian Superstar Lori Michaels

Diva Jackie will be joined on stage with a very special

guest appearance by Lesbian Superstar Lori Michaels, featuring

Sasha X.

Additional performances will be provided by award-winning actor, playwright, and producer José Roldan Jr, who will perform a feature from his latest solo show, Father Forgive Me For I Have Sinned; vocalists Joey Ruckus and Neo Hall Richard; and drag entertainer Pissi Myles.

Marilyn AbalosWe are also pleased to announce that Marilyn Abalos, chair of the Greater New York Steering Committee for the Human Rights Campaign, will address the audience at our pride event this year. Marilyn also serves as co-chair of HRC’s volunteer committee and is a board member of the New York Women’s Agenda.

Finally, Bronx Pride T-Shirts are now on sale. Order yours now ($15/$18 for extended sizes) and pick it up from our booth on pride! T-Shirts are also available if you wish to march with us in the NYC Pride Parade on June 29th — but hurry, the deadline is June 21st!Bronx Pride 2014 logo

Stay tuned here as we continue to announce our line-up of entertainers, speakers, and special guests in the coming weeks, or visit our event page for pride at http://bronxpride2014.eventbrite.com/. You can also join the event on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/559875584095127/.

Opportunities are still available for our 2014 Bronx LGBTQ Pride & Health Fair for advertising, vending, exhibiting in and sponsoring our event. Ads start as low as $25; full details and pricing for advertisers, vendors, and sponsors can be found at http://bronxpride2014.eventbrite.com/ or contact the pride committee chair, Peter C. Frank at bronxpride2014@bronxlgbtqcenter.org or 914-417-9579.

Sponsors
2014 Bronx LGBTQ Pride & Health Fair

Bronx 100 Centennial Celebration


Print Friendly, PDF & Email