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Queens Museum of Art hosts day of LGBT pride

The event will bring together organizations and individuals in an afternoon of free music, dance, video, dynamic performances, food, art, and activism to celebrate and support the importance and strength of multicultural connections in our New York gay, l

The afternoon includes videos by Harune Massey, Sridhar Rangayan and Hector Canonge of Cinema Rosa. Massey has worked in lighting design, installations and video. Hector Canonge will present his acclaimed documentary “Go Boys,” an informed look at the industry of go-go boys. The video section will conclude with “The Pink Mirror” (Gulabi Aaina), a colorful and funny look into the Indian homosexual closet that pits two Indian drag queens against a westernized gay teenager in a battle to woo a handsome hunk.

Underneath the campy humorous exterior, Sridhar Rangayan's film is an exploration of the Indian gay landscape and understanding of the deep, humanly tender bonding that exists between drag queens in India who form unique, non-patriarchal families. Performance artist La Muéca will then liven the proceedings with an exciting blend of spontaneous live performance with video projection.

The event continues with fabulous live musical performances kicked off by Mahina Movement. “Mahina” is taken from the Tongan word for moon and the Spanish to imagine, and the group explores creative means to reframe our consciousness through a potent and entrancing mix of dance, theater, spoken word and song. The group recently headlined events such as Lady Fest East – NYC-2002; Critical Breakdown's Active Youth Summit in Boston, sharing the stage with Dead Prez, Medusa, La Bruja, Ra Goddess; and WERISE; and the Women's Conference at Barnard College where the collective shared the stage with renowned activist and poet Sonia Sanchez.

Kinetic dancer Anika Adilfu will perform a new piece, followed by the ethereal vocalist Imani Uzuri. Uzuri is the sensational, no-longer-underground phenomenon whose unique voice has been described as “reminiscent of Nina Simone for the age of electronica.” Uzuri has performed internationally and has collaborated with keyboard legend Herbie Hancock, rapper Talib Kweli, and Tony Wah-Chu-Ku of Attica Blues.

The entertaining highlight of the evening will be performances by female impersonators of all colors, one of whom will be crowned the “Queen of Queens.” Drag performers will include the divine Zeena Diwani, Jennifer St. Cartier, Appolonia, and the always-electrifying Bijli.

Atif Toor, co-founder of Sholay Productions, a partner organization, said, “The borough of Queens has historically been a center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizing in New York City. It is also among the most ethnically diverse communities in the nation. We hope this event at the museum reflects the vibrant diversity and vitality that is uniquely Queens.”

The event will conclude with dance party featuring a mix of Bollywood/Bhangra/World beats by Ashu Rai, the co-founder of Sholay Productions, an NYC-based events management company that puts on the monthly South Asian Queer dance party DESIlicious, which regularly draws crowds of 400-500.

Partners include Sholay Productions, Queens Pride House, Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade Committee, and OutFM, among others. †

Free snacks will be provided throughout the event, which is open to the public and free with admission (Suggestion donation: $5 adults, $2.50 seniors/students, members and children under 5 free.)