52 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JUNE 24, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Queens Theatre to host events honor the legacy of Stonewall
BY JULIA MORO
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e Queens Th eatre will be holding free
virtual events on Th ursday nights in June
and July honoring the legacy of Stonewall,
the 1960s uprising that led to the gay liberation
QNS fi le photo
‘Family Skate Day’ brings St. Albans community together
BY BILL PARRY
organization based in Brooklyn, and King
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
of Kings Foundation, a nonprofi t with a
@QNS
mission to educate youth about the dangers
of guns, drugs, gang violence and the
All that was missing was “Say So” by
lack of education.
Doja Cat blasting in the background as
SkateRobics holds weekly skating events
Councilman I. Daneek Miller hosted
in St. Albans Park — usually on Sundays
Family Skate Day in St. Albans Park earlier
beginning at 2 p.m. — and partnered with
this month.
Miller to bring the festivities to Daniel M.
Th e event was held in partnership with
O’Connell Playground on June 8.
SkateRobics, an educational roller skating
Th e event was part of the annual Family
Fun Day series hosted by Miller’s offi ce at
local parks around his district during the
summer months.
Tuesday’s event featured a live DJ, free
skate rental for children and adults of all
ages, refreshments, masks, sanitizer and
voter information.
“We have said for the past eight years
that we’re going to have the healthiest
community in the entire city of New
York,” Miller said. “Th at meant bringing
in healthcare opportunities, healthy
foods and, most of all, fi nding creative
ways to utilize our open space to exercise.
We saw all diff erent generations represented
at our Skate Day, and we’re excited
to see so many local families participating.
We are grateful for the partnership
with SkateRobics and King of Kings
Foundation, and of course, everyone who
came out to enjoy the weather and skate
with us!”
movement.
Th e virtual shows will be led by
LGBTQIA+ artists who will share art and
experiences and create a safe space for
conversations about the Stonewall riots.
Aft er time in isolation due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers felt
that holding these events was necessary.
“Queer art and queer spaces have
been threatened and diminished during
the time of COVID,” Queens Th eatre’s
Director of Community Engagement
Dominic D’Andrea said. “Holding space
for queer art and uplift ing the artists is
essential right now.”
Th e Stonewall Legacy Project includes
free events every Th ursday at 7 p.m. from
June 17 to July 15. Each event will include
a discussion with the artist aft er their
show.
Guests can RSVP tickets for each event
at queenstheatre.org/the-stonewall-legacy
project.
Ava Davis, a Black trans artist and activist,
said that queer space has always been
important, but is more so now coming out
of isolation.
“We need these safe spaces for healing,
for growing, for reconnecting, and for creating
amongst those with whom we share
similar queer experiences,” Davis said.
“At the start of the pandemic, I consoled
myself with the fact that there would be an
explosion of creativity once we started to
return, and we are beginning to see that,
and it is beautiful.”
On Th ursday, June 17, Davis showcased
her fi lm, “Th e Duchess of Grant Park,” a
story about fi nding your purpose in life.
“Th e Duchess of Grant Park pays homage
to Marsha P. Johnson’s lasting work
(aft er throwing that fi rst brick) with STAR
and the support of queer homeless youth,”
Davis said. “Th e support of LGBTQ youth
has become my own life’s mission, as Her
Grace, the Duchess of Grant Park.”
Th e Stonewall Legacy Digital Drag
Project on Th ursday, June 24, will include
a 90-minute drag performance featuring
Wanda Whatever, Prinx Silver, Vagenesis,
Nancy Nogood, Boudoir LeFleur and
China Moon. Th e video shows fi lmed
performances created during COVID-19
isolation.
“For many queer people, including drag
artists, these venues are not only fi nancial
lifelines, but lifelines of mental health,
community, being seen, feeling validated,”
said Jordan Stovall, also known as Wanda
Whatever. “Th e very art of drag shows
others out there that they are not alone.”
“Invisibility: A Journey of Pasta, Prayer,
Protest & Peru” on July 1 will showcase
a live Zoom solo from Richard
Cardillo. Th is show takes viewers through
Cardillo’s childhood growing up in an
Italian-American family and his experience
coming out as a gay man.
Cardillo also sees the urgency in reviving
spaces for queer artists and voices.
“As we have seen more isolation than
ever, it is incumbent on queer artists to
re-ignite the spirit of Stonewall, recommit
to elevating the voices of our queer
family, and give witness to the power that
our queer community possesses,” Cardillo
said. “My sincere hope is that ‘Invisibility’
can be a catalyst for increased visibility
and the celebration of ourselves.”
Second Helping on July 8 will feature
Kelly Dunham, and the last event on July
15 will showcase award-winning Queer
Latinx short fi lms.
For more details and social media information
about presenters, visit Queens
Th eatre’s website.
Councilman I. Daneek Miller at his Family Skate Day at the Daniel M. Cohen Playground in St.
Albans.
Photos by Emil Cohen/NYC Council
Councilman I. Daneek Miller hosts Family Skate Day with community members at the Daniel M.
Cohen Playground in St. Albans.
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