BOROUGH HALL'S GOT PRIDE

BP MARKOWITZ, BROOKLYN'S LGBT COMMUNITY RAISE RAINBOW FLAG OVER BOROUGH HALL FOR PRIDE WEEK

On Monday, June 6, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Brooklyn Pride, the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, community organizations, elected officials, military veterans and Brooklyn's LGBT community to officially kick off Pride Week (complete schedule below) with the raising of the rainbow flag over Borough Hall. 

Speakers included Brooklyn Pride Parade Chair Mickey Heller; Kings County District Attorney Charles "Joe" Hynes; Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez; Brooklyn Community Pride Center President Michael Burke; and Carlos Menchaca, representing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Also joining the festivities were grand marshals for this year's parade, Reverend Ann Kansfield and Reverend Jennifer Aull of Greenpoint Reformed Church, and Carl Siciliano, executive director of the Ali Forney Center.

BP Markowitz, who presented a proclamation to Brooklyn Pride Chair Zully Rollan, addressed the issue of marriage equality. "We are engaged in a fundamental right for equal rights--the right of same-sex couples to enter in legal marriages," said BP Markowitz. "Now I admit there was a time a few years ago when I was on the wrong side of this issue. But then it became clear to me--as it should be to everyone else--that love is love! It really is that simple."

Photo by Kathryn Kirk