Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson's Pride Flag Raising at Borough Hall

It may have been pouring outside Thursday afternoon, but inside the Bronx Courthouse Rotunda, Bronx Pride was overflowing. Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson and Deputy Borough President Janet Peguero honored LGBTQIA+ community leaders for their work and service to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Honorees included Emcee and Pharmaceutical Sales Rep and AIDS advocate Jomil Luna, Executive Director of the ChocoBar Cortes Brand Carlos Cortes, CEO for the New York Transgender Bodybuilding Federation Lailani Muniz,  Entrepreneur - Social Activist - and Model Mx. B Hawk Snipes, Youth Recognition with Destination Tomorrow Prevention Services and Outreach Specialist Jaisen Garcia-Castillo, and the John Wade Memorial Award to the Executive Director of the Sunnyside Shines BID and former Director of External Affairs for Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Dirk McCall. Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson also proclaimed June Pride Month. 

After the award presentation inside, the rain let up enough for all to go outside, and raise the rain soaked Pride Flag above Bronx Borough Hall.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson welcomes everyone to the Borough President's Pride celebration and Pride Flag raising. The banner which had said Ruben Diaz Jr. for over twelve years now says Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

On hand to celebrate with Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson were (L - R) Bharati Kemraj, BP Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, New York City Commissioner on Human Rights Annabel Palma, and Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero behind the BP and DA. 

Bronx BP Gibson and Deputy BP Peguero with honoree and Emcee Jomil Luna.

New York City Commissioner on Human Rights Annabel Palma, Bronx BP Vanesa Gibson, John Wade Memorial Award Honoree Dirk McCall. Bronx DA Darcel Clark, and Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero.

Sean Coleman, the founder and Executive Director of Destination Tomorrow holds the proclamation for Pride Month from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. also in the photo is Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero.  

(L - R) Honorees Jomil Luna, Carlos Cortes, and Mx. B Hawk Snipes, Deputy BP Janet Peguero, Bronx BP Vanessa Gibson, Honorees Jaisen Garcia-Castillo, Lailani Muniz, Dirk McCall, and Sean Coleman, with Rev. Dr. Vanessa Brown.

A moment of silence for all who have died fighting for the cause.

Everyone prepares to go outside to raise the pride flag.

The rain soaked Pride Flag (seen between the lights) is being raised, as Bronx BP Gibson and Deputy BP Peguero turn the crank to raise the flag.