Dinner Benefit In J. Hts. Tonight
Queens Pride House-the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community center in the borough-will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a Thursday, Sept. 27 benefit in Jackson Heights.
The benefit will take place at Novo, located at 78-23 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights, from 6-9 p.m. At the event, chaired by WNBC-TV weekend meteorologist and weather producer Raphael Miranda, four persons and one nonprofit group will be recognized for their efforts.
“We decided to use our 15th anniversary as an opportunity to honor Selena Blake, Ross Levi, the Rev. Charles McCarron, Daniel Cano and Voces Latinas for their contributions to the LGBT community,” said Pauline Park, president of the board of directors and acting executive director.
“We’re delighted to have Raphael Miranda as the master of ceremonies for our anniversary benefit,” added chief financial officer and board treasurer Charles Ober, who along with Park is the only original co-founding member of the organization still directly involved in its operations.
The honorees
Blake is a documentarian who directed the film Taboo Yardies, about homophobia in Jamaica.
As executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Ross Levi led the organization’s successful campaigns for the Dignity for All Students Act and the state marriage equality law, and he has since joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s team as vicepresident for marketing initiatives in the business marketing division at Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s chief economic development agency.
Rev. McCarron was the first executive director of Queens Pride House, serving as an unpaid volunteer in that capacity in 1997-98. Since 2004, he has been executive director of Episcopal Community Services of Long Island.
Daniel Cano interned at Pride House and then stayed after his internship to conduct a series of workshops on positive psychology; he just finished his associate’s degree at La- Guardia Community College and is now starting his first year at Hunter College.
Voces Latinas will be honored for their work with immigrant Latinas in Queens living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk for the disease.
Queens Pride House serves over 6,000 clients and conducts health support, education and referral programs, youth training, and cultural and social programming.
To buy tickets and/or make a donation, visit www.queenspridehouse.org.
