LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 17th Annual Brooklyn Pride
Celebration

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
applaud those cultural events within the State of New York which serve
to celebrate diversity, and in doing so, help to enfranchise minority
populations within the larger community of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 17th Annual Brooklyn Pride Celebration held on June 3-8, 2013;
and
WHEREAS, Few imagined that on June 14, 1997, Brooklyn's First Annual
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Celebration would be such a
huge success, especially since it was being organized and produced by a
new grassroots organization with an all volunteer staff; 15 years later,
Brooklyn Pride, Inc. produces the second largest Pride Celebration in
New York; and
WHEREAS, Brooklyn Pride has hosted over 35,000 participants at its
festival, stage and night parade; it had a cross section of the
borough's business, community and government leaders as well as city
wide organizations and businesses as participants in the festival and
parade; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Brooklyn Pride has become the largest and
most prominent organization serving Brooklyn's LGBT community; although
Brooklyn Pride's primary mission is to produce the borough's annual
pride events, the organization actively works to bring pride year round
to every Brooklyn neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Brooklyn Pride is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-managed, tax-exempt,
non-profit organization working for and on behalf of all lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender Brooklynites and all others who support the
struggle for equality of this community; in the spirit of Stonewall,
Brooklyn Pride welcomes the participation of all the residents of Brook-
lyn, the outer boroughs and pride communities both out of state and
internationally; and
WHEREAS, Brooklyn Pride is a proud member of the International Associ-
ation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators
(InterPride), a not-for-profit organization that provides support to
over 200 groups that plan Pride events around the globe; Brooklyn Pride
is also a member of Northeast Regional Pride (NERP), an association of
Pride committees in the Northeast; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is very pleased to have this opportu-
nity to express its highest admiration for Brooklyn Pride, Inc. and to
wish this worthy organization continued success in its work on behalf of
the community it so ably represents; and
WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts of
individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life for
others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 17th Annual Brooklyn Pride Celebration; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mickey Heller, 2013 Parade Coordinator, Brooklyn Pride Inc.