Croton-on-Hudson, NY – In recognition of Pride Month, New York State Senator Pete Harckham honored three LGBTQ+ advocates—Alanna “Allie” Fraase, Rebecca Loeffel and Rev. Michael Tino—for their exceptional leadership in promoting visibility, understanding and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“I have said this many times before, but what makes the Hudson Valley great is its diversity, and it is something we should embrace, and not be afraid of,” said Harckham. “The backlash we have seen in recent years against the LGBTQ+ community is something we need to stand up to and speak out against. When the position of LGBTQ+ individuals in our society is attacked, from their ability to serve in our military or access healthcare to their participation in academia or athletics, we cannot remain silent. We understand that bigotry against anyone is bigotry against all of us. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and we will continue to support and defend our LGBTQ+ residents.”

The commemorative ceremony was held on June 23 at the Croton Free Library, where the honorees received official New York State Senate Proclamations in front of family, friends and community members. Croton-on-Hudson Mayor Brian Pugh joined Harckham and delivered introductory remarks congratulating the honorees. The ceremony aired live on Facebook; click here to see a video of the event. 

Croton resident Allie Fraase is a community leader, entrepreneur, and advocate who co-founded both the Croton Welcome Wagon and the Croton Rainbow Club, thus helping foster connection, inclusion, and support for new residents, LGBTQ+ youth, families and allies throughout northern Westchester. She is also an active PTA volunteer, serves on the advisory committee for Fourth Fridays, co-hosts a student talent-show fundraiser, owns a residential interior design business and is a licensed real estate salesperson with Berkshire Hathaway River Towns Real Estate.

“All the work I do as a volunteer and professionally is driven by my goal that all should have a space in their community where they feel welcomed and included,” said Fraase. “Thank you to all who have attended, supported, welcomed and been a part of Rainbow Club, Fourth Fridays and the Welcome Wagon. Research shows that having dedicated third spaces is crucial for youth mental health; they help prevent loneliness, reduce stress and prevent youth from engaging in risky behaviors. None of the work that we’ve done would be possible without all of my wonderful co-founders and collaborators.”  

Rebecca Loeffel, a Brewster resident, is a student at SUNY New Paltz pursuing a degree in journalism and digital media production; they also serve as a staff writer for The Oracle, and is a dedicated community organizer and advocate for LGBTQ+ youth. An active member of Putnam Pride, they have helped organize annual Pride events, spoken publicly about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ young people, created memorial tributes honoring transgender and gender-expansive individuals, and led fundraising efforts for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth.

“I didn’t think I would be winning an award at 19, but here we are,” said Loeffel. “I mostly do work encouraging the support of youth mental health, specifically LGBTQ+ youth, because back when I was in high school, being openly gay in Putnam County was not fun. I felt like there wasn’t that much support for me, especially in my school district. After that I started trying to push for more, in both the schools in Putnam and for kids around the world by supporting the Trevor Project. I would like to note that the Trevor Project is the best place you can donate to in support of kids who are facing mental health crises; they are one of the only places that actually offer support to LGBTQ+ youths because the national suicide hotline is no longer doing that.”  

A Peekskill resident, Rev. Tino is a longtime Unitarian Universalist minister, educator, and community leader who has served in congregational and national leadership roles, including with the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Hudson Valley. A champion of inclusion, racial equity, and LGBTQ+ youth, Rev. Tino has helped develop sexuality education curricula, advised diversity initiatives, served on numerous national committees and boards, while remaining actively engaged in the local community through organizations such as Fourth Fridays and the Peekskill Human Relations Committee. 

“My call to the ministry was rooted in an understanding that creating spaces where people can be exactly who they are and be loved was transformative,” said Rev. Tino. “It was transformative for people who got the message from other parts of their life that they were not worthy of love or respect. It was transformative for our community and our world to have those spaces. My Unitarian Universalist faith teaches that every person is worthy of love and respect just as they are; whatever their identities, whatever they are struggling with, whatever they have done in their lives, they are worthy of love and nothing they can do can make them unworthy of that love.”

Observed each June, Pride Month celebrates the history, resilience and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, recognizing as well the ongoing work to achieve equality, dignity, and inclusion for all.