LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Florent Morellet upon the occasion of
the release of the film, "Florent: Queen of the Meat Packing District"

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Florent Morellet has given not only of his time and energies
but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Florent Morel-
let upon the occasion of the release of the film, "Florent: Queen of the
Meat Packing District"; and
WHEREAS, Florent Morellet was the owner of Florent, the Meat Market
Restaurant on Gansevoort Street which has served meatpackers, club kids,
drag queens, celebrities and just plain folks for 23 years before it
closed in 2008, and is re-created in David Sigal's new documentary
"Florent: Queen of the Meat Packing District"; and
WHEREAS, The film includes archive photos from 1985, when Florent
Morellet started the restaurant, and interviews with celebrities,
including Julianne Moore, Isaac Mizrahi, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael
Musto, Sylvia Miles, David Rakoff, Robin Byrd, Penny Arcade and Christo
and Jeanne-Claude; and
WHEREAS, The film also features clips from Florent Morellet including
his response to the news in 1987 that he was H.I.V. positive and how he
decided to go public with it; and
WHEREAS, The film was shown as a work in progress on June 6, 2011, at
New Fest, the New York gay and lesbian film festival, where it won the
Audience Award; and
WHEREAS, Florent Morellet has been called upon to contribute his time
and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always
given of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the LGBT and the AIDS community,
Florent Morellet serves as Gansevoort Market co-Chair where he was part
of a three year campaign for historic district designation by the Green-
wich Village Society for Historic Preservation and its Save Gansevoort
Market project; after much hard work, the New York City Landmarks Pres-
ervation Commission approved the proposed Gansevoort Market Historic
District; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Florent Morellet has stood constant
in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Florent Morellet has displayed
throughout his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Florent Morellet upon the occasion of the release of the film,
"Florent: Queen of the Meat Packing District"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Florent Morellet.