GAY CITY NEWS IMPACT AWARDS
Honorees Shine at Impact Awards
Desmond Napoles, aka Desmond Is Amazing, performs to Deee-Lite’s “Power of Love.”
BY MATT TRACY
Thirty-one individuals who
have made a difference
in the local LGBTQ community
were honored at a
virtual edition of the 2020 Gay City
News Impact Awards gala on September
24.
The long-awaited event, modifi ed to
a virtual format for the fi rst time due
to the coronavirus pandemic, brought
together leaders of the community
who either traveled to the Ravel Hotel
in Long Island City — where the event
was originally slated to take place on
March 26 — to deliver brief remarks
in an open-air, socially-distanced setting
or submitted acceptance speeches
via video for an online broadcast
that aired last Thursday evening.
Attendees joined the program online
and watched as honorees made
moving speeches that expanded on
the important work they do every
day and elaborated on the pressing
issues facing the community, including
the staggering death toll of transgender
women of color nationwide,
the unique hardships facing the most
marginalized queer New Yorkers during
the pandemic, and the crucial
election battle looming in November.
Victoria Schneps, president of Gay
City News’ parent company, Schneps
Media, opened the evening with remarks
welcoming the honorees and
thanking the event’s sponsors, while
founding editor-in-chief Paul Schindler
offered a call to action as he prepared
to introduce the honorees.
DONNA ACETO
“If we and our like minded friends,
family, and allies across America remain
united — and we all pitch in, especially
in online activism focused on
critical swing states — we can move
through this uncertain time and arrive
on the other side better off for our
struggle,” Schindler said. “Our honorees
tonight are critical players in
leading us to the other side.”
Award recipients ranged from infl
uential activists to non-profi t leaders,
political advocates, and innovative
pioneers representing industries
spanning from fi nance to law. Honorees
refl ected on their own accomplishments
and commended the work
of their fellow award winners, many
of whom have overcome obstacles to
generate change for the better in their
own communities.
Jevon Martin, the out trans founder
and executive director of Princess Janae
Place, which serves homeless LGBTQ
New Yorkers, particularly trans
folks, dedicated his speech to Stormé
DeLarverie, Marsha P. Johnson, and
Sylvia Rivera. In an interview moments
later, Martin recalled his own
journey launching Princess Janae
Place in the Bronx fi ve years ago at
a time when he was housing numerous
individuals in his own home. He
explained the ways in which he has
been addressing the critical needs
of his clients during the coronavirus
pandemic.
“We’ve still been housing people
because the homeless can’t quarantine,”
Martin said. “I’ve been out al-
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➤ IMPACT AWARD HONOREES, continued on p.22
DONNA ACETO
Award presenter Doug Wirth, president and CEO of
Amida Care, one of the evening’s sponsors.
DONNA ACETO
Katherine Acey and José Albino of the Griot Circle.
DONNA ACETO
Ethel A. Felix, a co-founder and the president of
Caribbean American Pride.
DONNA ACETO
Longtime activist Ken Kidd, who was among the
founders of Gays Against Guns.
October 8 - October 22, 2 20 020 | GayCityNews.com
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