[00:00:05]
NOW I'VE BEEN GIVEN A MICROPHONE.
[00:05:13]
LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME.WELL, HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD PLAY THE SAXOPHONE LIKE THAT.
MAYOR, HAVE SOME WATER BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR SPEECH.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR VERY TALENTED MAYOR OF HASTINGS, TOM DRAKE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE AREN'T FROM THE VILLAGE, SO WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON.
AND, UH, AS SAID, I'M TOM DRAKE AND I'M THE MAYOR OF THIS PRIDE, THIS PRIDE-FILLED VILLAGE THIS EVENING.
AND I MEAN ALL PUNS, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY PUN I'M GONNA SAY TO THEM.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO COVER TONIGHT, AND I DON'T NORMALLY WRITE THINGS DOWN FOR SPEECHES THAT I'VE BEEN GIVING, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET ANYTHING OF HOW, HOW IMPORTANT THIS SUBJECT IS TO ME AND TO THIS COMMUNITY THIS EVENING.
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT WE GATHER TO HONOR OUR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND QUESTIONING INTERSEX, ASEXUAL AND AROMATIC NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE VILLAGE AND BEHIND HASTINGS.
I RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THIS COMMUNITY MAKES TO OUR VILLAGE RIGHT HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DO NOW MORE THAN EVER, EVER.
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
I, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING IT TO OUR NATION'S CAPITAL THAT WE ACCEPT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I CALL ON MY ELECTED, MY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UH, I KNOW MARY JANE'S NOT HERE YET.
SHE'S ON HER WAY TONIGHT TO CONTINUE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITIES DO NOT BELIEVE OR FOLLOW WHAT WASHINGTON BELIEVES.
I PROMISE TO KEEP THIS QUICK, BUT I DO HAVE A STORY AND I'M NOT GREAT WITH STORIES.
BUT ON JUNE 1ST, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING, UH, AN EVENING WITH THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW, IS ALANI HERE? ALANI, ARE YOU HERE ON JUNE 1ST? OUR OPEN, OUR FIRST OPENLY GAY COMMANDER OF JAMES DAILEY, VFW POST 200, HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON, WAS HONORED BY OUR COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND IT WAS ACTUALLY IN OUR RIVER TOWNS DISPATCH NEWSPAPER TODAY, LEGISLATOR DAVID MRA HONORED BENANI FOR HIS ACTIVISM IN MAINTAINING EQUAL RIGHTS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE IN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ALL VETERANS.
ONE WORD THAT KEPT COMING UP THROUGHOUT THAT EVENING, MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE ON JUNE 1ST IN HONOR OF PRIDE MONTH.
ONE WORD THAT KEPT COMING UP THAT NIGHT WAS FIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA FIGHT, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE FIGHTING.
AND THIS REALLY STUCK WITH ME.
I GOT IN MY CAR WITH MY SON AFTERWARDS AND WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM, FROM WHITE PLAINS.
IT BOTHERED ME THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE'S A GROUP THAT'S STILL FIGHTING FOR THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IT BOTHERED ME THAT THAT WAS A PART OF ALL THE SPEECHES THAT NIGHT.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE I'M TRYING TO SAY TONIGHT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL, I HATE TO USE IT FIGHT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO USE IT.
WE SHOULD ALL BE COVERED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS AND HUMANS IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR ORGANIZERS, RAINBOW FAMILIES.
JEN BRUCE, JEN DI DIVA HUNTSMAN VENTURA.
WHERE'S BRIAN? HE'S THE GUY THAT TALKED ME INTO PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE TONIGHT.
THAT WAS A, I SHOULD NEVER HAVE PLAYED AT THE GALA RECENTLY.
OUR DOWNTOWN ADVOCATE, BARB PRIMAN, FOR DOING ALL THE, PROMOTING LOTS OF DIFFERENT PROMOTIONS THIS EVENING AND OUR VILLAGE STAFF, ALSO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO'S HERE SUPPORTING US TO THE KIDS.
THERE'S A FIRE TRUCK SITTING OUTSIDE
[00:10:01]
FOR YOU TO GO PLAY ON AND CHECK OUT.UM, AND ALSO BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE VENUE THIS EVENING.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, AFTER YOU'RE DONE THIS EVENING, GO DOWNTOWN.
ALL OF OUR RESTAURANTS WERE PREPARED TO, TO FEED ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING.
AND THEY, WE DIDN'T PLAN ON A PIVOT COMING UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THIS EVENING, GET DOWNTOWN AND PATRONIZE ALL OF OUR AWESOME BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN.
'CAUSE THEY WERE READY FOR THIS CREW.
AND, AND BECAUSE OF ME PLAYING AT A GALA RECENTLY, BRIAN VOLUNTEERED ME.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA DO A SING ALONG THIS EVENING.
I HAVE THE, THE CHORUS, THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS HERE TO SUPPORT ME.
THIS IS ALL BRIAN'S IDEA SO NOBODY CAN YELL AT ME FOR IT.
YOU SHOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THE SONG.
SO CAN WE GET EVERYBODY QUIET? I'D LOVE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY SING ALONG WITH THIS SONG.
PLEASE THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, NIGHT TONIGHT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, PRIDE IS A PROTEST AND WE'VE GOT THREE PROTEST SONGS FOR YOU TONIGHT.
HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS WITH THREE FANTASTIC SOLOISTS.
THIS IS THE TIMES THEY ARE CHANGING WITH SAM NICHOLSON AS A SOLOIST, BIG YELLOW TAXI WITH CHIO CHRIST.
AND IF I CAN DREAM WITH AMELIA RAMIREZ, THE AROUND YOU HAVE GROWN AND ACCEPT THAT SOON YOU'LL BE DRENCHED THROUGH IF YOUR WORTH.
[00:20:44]
THERE[00:20:44]
MUST BE THE JUST ONE QUICK THING, UH, I JUST WANT TO BRING EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.I'M SORRY THAT I'M BACK UP HERE AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A WAVE AND GIVE A HELLO TO NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARY JANESKY WHO JUST GOT HERE.
AND, UH, I HAVE TO SAY THANK GOD WE MOVED INSIDE 'CAUSE IT'S A REALLY BAD STORM OUTSIDE.
UH, ALSO HERE THIS EVENING, OUR VILLAGE TRUSTEE SAMANTHA MERTON AND VILLAGE TRUSTEE MALIKA SUNBURN.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF CAT YANG AND PHIL JAZZ EXTRAORDINAIRE WITH YOUR INCREDIBLE BASIS, HUSBAND.
HELLO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS WHO I LOVE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, YOU GUYS.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THE WORD GAY MEANS IN FRENCH? IT MEANS HAPPY, JOYOUS.
[00:25:01]
GONNA SING A SONG MADE, MADE FAMOUS BY EDITH PF, WHO WAS A CHAMPION OF THE PARISIAN QUEER CULTURE, WAS REPORTEDLY BISEXUAL AND ALL OF HER SONGS WERE ABOUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THIS YEAR, LOOKING FOR, OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU GUYS.THANK YOU, KA LET'S GIVE IT UP.
THANK YOU FRIENDS, WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF AMANDA CAP DANCE COMPANY.
WHERE YOU GUYS AT? GET IT GIRLS.
[00:30:20]
THANK YOU LADIES.LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME.
OOH, WE HAVE NOW ALSO A COUPLE SPECIAL GUESTS COMING UP.
YES, I'M BRIANNA KIANA AND I ARE DOING DANCE GAMES LATER, BUT I ALSO HAVE A ADULT CLASS AT AMANDA CAPELLA'S DANCE.
AND WE ARE PERFORMING, THE ADULT CLASS IS PERFORMING.
IF YOU ARE AN ADULT AND YOU WANNA TAKE HIP HOP, YOU GO HERE AND LATIN.
OOH, YES LADIES, THAT WAS AMAZING.
I MAY BE JOINING AND SIGNING UP FOR THAT CLASS.
WE NOW HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, SID GREENBERG.
HE'S A HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
HE IS GETTING READY RIGHT NOW.
SYD, I KNOW YOU TOLD ME ALL THESE REALLY SPECIAL THINGS, BUT I COULD BARELY HEAR YOU.
DO YOU WANT, DO YOU WANNA TELL THE PEOPLE? YES.
I I MEAN FOR A LOT OF YOU I STAND IN FRONT OF CLASS AND TALK AT YOU ALL THE TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE SONGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH WORKING FOR.
SO IT'S JUST ME AND THE GUITAR.
[00:35:09]
IT'S A SONG CALLED A DON'T COME EASY, IT'S REALLY OLD, BUT IT'S BY, UH, RIGO STAR.IF YOU WANT A SINGLE AND YOU KNOW IT COME EASY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT ONLY, YOU CAN EVEN PLAY EASY.
FORGET ABOUT THE BEST AND WON'T LAST.
IT WILL SOON BE OVER TOMORROW.
AND YOU KNOW, IT DON'T COME EASY.
AND THIS LOVE OF MINE KEEPS GROWING ALL THE TIME.
AND YOU KNOW, IT JUST EASY LOVE TWOS.
IF YOU WANT SINGLE AND YOU KNOW IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOUT.
REMEMBER, PEACE WITHIN YOUR REACH, YOUR BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE IT.
AND YOU KNOW, IT DON'T COME EASY AND LOVE OF GROWING ALL THE TIME.
AND YOU KNOW, IT DON'T COME EASY.
AND YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH, SID.
SO TOMMY, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT LIKE IS REALLY AMAZING FOR FASHION? SO SONG SIMON, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? FIRE.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
OKAY, EVERYBODY THERE IS A FASHION SHOW COMING THROUGH FROM SOMEWHERE, SO EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AROUND 'CAUSE APPARENTLY THEY MAY PUSH YOU.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
WHAT SHE GOT? WHERE IS THIS FASHION SHOW COMING FROM? IT'S OVER HERE.
THE FASHION SHOW IS STARTING OVER HERE.
[00:40:16]
YES, YES.LET'S GIVE ONE MORE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE MODELS.
I LOVE THAT WE NOW HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMER.
OH, I'M BACK ON DANIEL, COME ON OVER HERE.
DANIEL HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING TO SAY.
UH, I'M SO HONORED TO BE HERE AND UH, THANK YOU BRIAN FOR HAVING ME.
THE SONG I'M ABOUT TO SING IS BY STEVEN SONDHEIM AND IT SPEAKS TO UNCERTAINTY AND REALLY LEARNING TO CHERISH AND BE GRATEFUL FOR EACH MOMENT WE'RE GIVEN.
'CAUSE TIMES CAN BE VERY CHAOTIC AND UNCERTAIN AND IT'S ABOUT LIVING AT THE MOMENT.
[00:45:11]
THERE'S ANYTHING AT ALL.IF THERE'S ANYTHING AT ALL I'M SURE OF HERE AND NOW AND TOGETHER, IF THERE'S SURE ENOUGH OF YOU MAKES ME SURE ENOUGH OF ME.
EVERYTHING THAT'S PASSED, EVERYTHING THAT'S OVER TOO FAST, NONE OF IT WAS WASTED.
EVERYTHING THAT'S HEAL AND NOW AND IT AND IT NEVER CRAZY BUSINESS.
DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SO IN THIS WORLD, WE HAD A THANK YOU DANIEL.
GIVE IT UP FOR ELIJAH CALDWELL ON KEYS.
OKAY, SO NOW I'M GONNA DO A LITTLE DITTY, BUT I NEED A FAVOR.
I NEED ALL THE CHILDREN TO GET RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS SONG.
THIS IS, NO, THIS IS JUST ME SINGING A SONG.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HELP ME.
I'M DOING A SONG THAT YOU GUYS KNOW.
COME ON GUYS, LET'S GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE.
GO GET IN THE MIDDLE AND DANCE PEOPLE.
YOU GUYS WILL KNOW THIS SONG, SO JUST DANCE IT UP.
ALL THE CHILDREN, RYAN, COME ON, GET OUT.
THIS IS MY HUSBAND ALEX HAMLIN.
READY? I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THIS SONG.
KNOW YOU WANTED ME TO STAY, BUT I THE I HEARD THAT THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE AND GIRLS QUEENS DAY, I SWEAR CALLING.
I KNOW SHE'S GONNA SCREAM WHAT HAPPENED DOWN OF CLUB.
[00:50:14]
EVERY FROM YOU TOO.HAVE YOU? I'M GONNA KEEP ON DANCING WEST HOLLYWOOD.
I'M GONNA KEEP ON DANCING AT THE CLUB.
AND EVERY SATURDAY I CAN HEAR YOUR SOUTHERN A THOUSAND MILES AWAY AND PINK COAT.
NEXT UP, OUR NEXT PERFORMER IS FROM DOBBS FUR REPRESENT.
DOMINIC IS A JUNIOR AT DOBBS FURRY HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN PERFORMING PRACTICALLY SINCE THE BOOM AND ON STAGE SINCE HE WAS SIX YEARS OLD.
HE'LL BE SINGING FROM PIPPIN, A ROLE THAT RECENTLY EARNED HIM A NOMINATION FOR A METRO AWARD AND A ROGER REESE AWARD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS? OH NO, YOU GOT A TRACK.
TWO MORE HUGE SUPPORTERS OF THE COMMUNITY THIS EVENING.
TWO MORE HUGE SUPPORTERS HERE, UH, GREENBERG TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLEN HENDRICKS AND NEW YORK STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREW STEWART COUSINS.
HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE VILLAGE OF HAITI AND THANK YOU.
THIS SONG TO ME IS ABOUT NOT FEELING ACCEPTED, TRYING TO FIND WHO YOU'RE AND MY MUSIC DIRECTOR SHOULD BE IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO I'M SORRY IF I ADD A LITTLE MORE RIFFS THAN I DID IN THE ORIGINAL SHOW.
I PROMISE IT'S JUST ANYWHERE I GO.
RIVERS WHERE THEY CAN RAMBLE, EAGLE, WHERE THEY CAN FLY.
[00:55:04]
DON'T YOU SEE I WANT SO I WON'T WHERE SPIRIT OF HAPPY PRIDES.I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS SHOE.
OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL, I, THAT WAS INCREDIBLE, DOMINIC, THAT WAS AMAZING.
UM, JUST LIKE EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF PRIDE.
UM, I WANNA SAY, UH, SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY ACKNOWLEDGED OR RECOGNIZED AS AMY AND LYNN, WHO IS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU IS JUST INCREDIBLE ON SO MANY LEVELS.
UM, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, UM, IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT FIRST I'M GONNA BRING UP A GROUP OF, UM, SPECIAL GUESTS.
THERE'S THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THEY HAVEN'T.
THIS IS MY DAUGHTER MATILDA AND HER FRIENDS.
SO THEY GET A LITTLE NEPOTISM.
OKAY? SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, AMY HAS HAD SOMETHING COOKING IN THE BOOKS, UM, WITH HER BUSINESS PARTNER, DANIEL.
IF YOU MISSED IT, THEY HAD THEIR INAUGURAL PERFORMANCE, UH, LAST WEEKEND OF YOUR GOODMAN, CHARLIE BROWN.
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE, UM, THE GROUP IN ACTION WITH SOME OF THE CHILDREN.
THIS IS A PERFORMANCE BASED GROUP THAT WILL BE STARTING UP.
THAT WILL BE FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
AND IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLE AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS MOMENT.
NEVER AGAIN WILL THE BEST OF ME, NEVER AGAIN WILL AWAY FREEDOM.
AND WE WON'T FORGET THE FOUGHT THE RIGHT.
[01:02:00]
HI.UM, MY NAME IS SEBASTIAN ELLO.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WHO ARE YOU? SEBASTIAN.
YEAH, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US? I'M AN UPCOMING FRESHMAN AT DO OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I BE SITTING DANCING THROUGH LIFE IN FRONT ED.
THE TROUBLE WITH SCHOOLS IS THEY ALWAYS TRY TO TEACH THE WRONG LESSON.
BELIEVE ME, I'VE BEEN KICKED OUT ENOUGH OF THEM TO KNOW, WANT YOU TO BECOME LESS CALLOW, LESS SHALLOW.
BUT I SAY, WHY AM BY STRESS? STOP STUDYING STRIFE AND LEARN TO LIVE THE UNEXAMINED LOVE DANCING THROUGH LIFE.
THE LIFE IS PAINLESS FOR THE TOO HARD WHEN IT'S SO SOOTHING.
AND ALWAYS LIFE IS THOUGHTLESS FOR TRY.
[01:05:20]
KNOWING NOTHING MATTERS.SO YOU, THIS NEXT PSALM IS FROM WE JUST DID A MUSICAL, THE GOOD COMPANY LAST WEEK.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.
HOW COME THE YOUTH WAS BETTER AT GETTING IN PLACES THAN THE ADULTS? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW.
OH, YOU NEED THE THANK GOD FOR MUSICAL THEATER, EVERYONE.
AND IN THE NEWS WE GOT A HOLIDAY THAT HE CAN REFUSE.
A DAY OF HARMONY, A DAY OF MUSIC.
BEETHOVEN'S FOR DAY SHOWMAN, BEETHOVEN DAY, THE HOPE OF EACH MUSICIAN.
NO MORE AM I THE ONLY GUY TO STAND UP AND SAY HURRY.
BEETHOVEN DAY YES, IS IN LUDWIG BON BEETHOVEN COMPOSER, OR IN 8 17 87 DIED IN 1827.
THE ELDEST OF THREE SONS, LUDWIG'S BROTHER WITH THE DAUGHTER OF THE CHIEF OVERSEER THAT WHATEVER LINE, GOD.
SCHROEDER, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M ON YOUR SIDE.
I WANNA HELP YOU PUBLICITY WISE WITH BEETHOVEN'S BIRTHDAY.
AFTER ALL, THIS IS A REALLY BIG THING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, SALLY.
BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA SEE BEETHOVEN'S BIRTHDAY.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE SELLING BEETHOVEN T-SHIRTS.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW DO WE START, JUST BLOW THE MUSIC SO YOU KNOW IT BY HEART.
WE'LL HAVE A PARTY, BEETHOVEN'S BIRTHDAY BEETHOVEN.
AND WHEN YOU STATE THE TITLE, YOU'LL HEAR A GREAT RECITAL.
THE RIGHT OF EVERY BOY AND GIRL TO STAND UP AND SAY, HURRY.
A POLYON JUMBLE THE WRITER OF EVERY BOY AND GIRL TO SIT UP AND SAY, I GOT IT.
WE WILL DEMAND FULL PAGE ADS IN EVERY NEWSPAPER.
START A CHAIN OF BEETHOVEN SUPERSTORE.
WE'LL BUILD A BEETHOVEN THEME PARK.
WE COULD HAVE A BAKE SALE WAIT BACK'S TO COMMERCIAL
[01:10:04]
WHEN WE ALL HONOR THE AMEN ON THE PLACE.THE NEW IS FACE ON A MOMENT OF REFLECTION, A CLASSICAL CON.
SO BASING THIS DIRECTION, WE BEGIN IT TODAY.
AUSABLE COLLECTION EVERYBODY CAREFULLY, THE RIGHT OF EVERY BOY AND GIRL TO STAND UP AND SAY, HURRY, MY HUSBAND STEVEN GATES ON THE PIANO.
AND THANK YOU LADIES, YOU ARE AMAZING.
THANK YOU TO THE CAST OF CHARLIE BROWN.
AND WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT OFF WITH A GOOD COMPANY KIDS SINGING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SONGS.
YOU'RE DONE LADIES, YOU'RE DONE.
OKAY, WE NOW HAVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS.
WHERE'S THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS.
[01:15:02]
I LOVE A CHORUS.ACTUALLY, HE'LL INTRODUCE YOU.
OKAY, FIRST, CAN WE JUST GIVE ANOTHER HAND FOR GOOD COMPANY? AND I FEEL LIKE I'M OUTING YOU, AMY.
UM, THAT THOSE KIDS HAD TWO REHEARSALS TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
UM, SECOND, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A, A MOMENT TO LOOK AROUND AT EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, JUST SO NOTICE AMIDST THE STORMS OUTSIDE THE OVERHEATED GYMNASIUM, THAT WE STILL JUST HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER IN, IN, UM, FOR PRIDE.
AND I'M, I'M SO PROUD OF THAT.
SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY.
WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD, I DANCED IN A PRODUCTION OF CINDERELLA WITH THE CHICAGO CITY BALLET COMPANY.
UM, BUT BY THE TIME I WAS 12, MY BURGE KNEE CAREER AS A BALLET DANCER STOPPED.
I QUIT IN EFFORTS TO STOP BEING CALLED BALLERINA FAIRY BY MY JUNIOR HIGH PEERS.
SO, LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, I GREW UP LEARNING THAT SAFETY MEANS SILENCE.
AND THAT TO SURVIVE I NEEDED TO DAMPEN MY AUTHENTIC SPIRIT.
AND SO I STRAIGHTENED MY WALK AND I LOWERED MY VOICE AND I TRIED TO BLEND IN.
BUT ALL OF THAT LEFT ME FEELING ALONE AND DISCONNECTED FROM MYSELF.
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK ON WHAT HELPED ME RECONNECT TO THOSE PARTS OF MYSELF, ONE THING STANDS OUT.
I FOUND A COMMUNITY OF FREAKS AND GEEKS WHO MADE ME FEEL LIKE I BELONGED.
THROUGH SHARED CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS LIKE SINGING AND ACTING, I EVENTUALLY FOUND A VOICE AGAIN.
AND THIS IS THE VERY REASON WHY WE HAVE GATHERINGS LIKE THIS.
THERE COULD BE NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A DARK CHAPTER IN OUR COUNTRY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE.
BUT FOR EVERY STORY OF EMBOLDENED HATE SPEECH AND BIGOTRY HAPPENING IN THE MOMENT, THERE IS A STORY OF SOLIDARITY, OF COMMUNITY, OF FINDING A VOICE.
LAST WEEK WHEN A GROUP OF NEO-NAZIS SHOWED UP TO A PRIDE CELEBRATION IN ATHENS, GEORGIA, A TOWN I ONCE CALLED HOME WAVING SWASTIKA FLAGS AND SHOUTING HATEFUL MESSAGES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS RESPONDED BY HOLDING UP A GIANT BANNER THAT COVERED THEM.
AND THE BANNER SAID, JOY IS LOUDER THAN HATE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, IN THE DEAD OF A MINNESOTA WINTER, WHEN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WERE BEING TORN APART, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER TO SING SONGS OF SOLIDARITY AND HOPE.
AND THEY SHOWED THAT OUR VOICES TOGETHER ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS.
WHEN WE'RE SURROUNDED BY MESSAGES OF HATE AND INTOLERANCE, WE LOSE OUR VOICES.
BUT WHEN WE FIND COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN.
EVERY YEAR AT THIS EVENT, I SEE SO MANY MOMENTS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT AND CELEBRATION FOR OUR UNIQUENESS.
AND EVERY YEAR I'M REMINDED WHY WE DO THIS.
WHY WE COME TOGETHER FOR PRIDE.
WE COME TOGETHER SO THAT EVERY KID WHO FEELS LIKE I DID AND EVERY GROWNUP WHO NEEDS REMINDING, KNOWS THAT THEY BELONG HERE, THAT WE BELONG HERE.
[01:20:07]
AND SO THAT WHEN WE NEED IT, WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER FIND OUR VOICES AGAIN.AND EVEN IN THESE DARK TIMES, WE DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF JOY AND HOPE.
AND SO I WANNA SHARE A SONG WITH YOU THAT, UM, I'M ACTUALLY YOU ARE GONNA SING IT.
UM, THIS IS A SONG FROM MINNESOTA.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO, UM, SING IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO JUST A LITTLE CALL RESPONSE.
OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
YES, OUR LOVE FOR EACH WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
THAT'S THE WHOLE SONG WE'RE GONNA DO CALL AND RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST TWO LINES.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SING THE LAST TWO LINES WITH ME.
WE ARE HERE WITH OUR VOICES, OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.
OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
WE ARE HERE WITH OUR NEIGHBOR.
OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
YES, OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WILL CARRY US THROUGH.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH ME.
NOW, I JUST WANNA SAY BEFORE THE MID WHILE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS GETTING READY, THAT BRIAN, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS PUT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER AND PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE, EVERYBODY'S HERE, A COMMUNITY LEADER FRIEND.
AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU AND DONE FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS.
[01:31:11]
LET'S[01:31:11]
GIVE IT UP FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORUS.OH, BRIANNA AND KIANA, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? AH, WHATCHA GUYS DOING? NOW COME OVER HERE.
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING NOW? WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE FREESTYLE DANCE TODAY.
AND THEN AFTER WE DO A LITTLE DANCE FOR YOU GUYS, WE'RE GONNA PLAY SOME GAMES.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING A FEW STEPS WITH US AND PLAYING SOME GAMES, THEN BRING IT OVER.
THEY SAID WE GONNA BRING IT OVER.
SO IF YOU WANNA DANCE, COME ON UP.
IF YOU GUYS WANNA LEARN A LITTLE FEW STEPS, BRING IT OVER.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOME FREEZE DANCE.
[01:36:07]
YOU CAN USE SOME OF THE MOVES YOU CAN SHOW OFF ANY OTHER MOVES YOU GOT.YEAH, THAT'S TOP ROCK EIGHT EIGHT A.
JUST NEED A COMMERCIAL SOMEBODY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR DANCING WITH US.
THANK YOU BRIANNA AND KIANA AND ALL THE WONDERFUL CHILDREN.
OH, GOODIE, ARE YOU READY TO GO? ALL RIGHT.
OUR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN HASTINGS, UM, AND THEN MOVED BACK HERE WITH HIS HUSBAND AND THEIR CHILD, UH, RECENTLY.
AND SO HE'S GONNA, UM, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES.
COME ON, PLEASE WELCOME THE NAME BRIAN.
HASTINGS AND HASTINGS RAINBOW FAMILIES.
CAN WE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? HASTINGS RAINBOW FAMILIES.
[01:40:01]
AMAZING TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.SO MY NAME IS BEIT AND SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS ABOUT ME.
BRIAN JUST SAID, I'M A HASTINGS ALUM CLASS OF 2002.
I DON'T SEE ANY CLASSMATES HERE.
WE, UH, WHO KNOWS WHAT, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT.
IN 10TH GRADE THAT THEATER DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO DO A RE-IMAGINING OF WIZARD OF OZ.
AND I WAS CAST AS GLENDA THE GOOD WITCH IN FULL DRAG.
YEAH, THERE I WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD REALLY AWKWARD KID IN A SALLY BOWL'S WIG.
A REALLY BASIC PINK DRESS AND PINK SOCKS.
'CAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND SIZE 13 PUFFS.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING AT THE END OF MY DRAG CAREER.
AM I RIGHT? I TELL YOU THIS STORY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY ONE OF THREE OUT GAY KIDS IN MY ENTIRE CLASS, HASTINGS WAS ALWAYS AN OPEN-MINDED TOWN.
FOR EVERY HOMOPHOBIC REMARK THAT I DEALT WITH, NAME CALLING OR ACTIVE AND KINDNESS I HAD TO DEAL WITH, THERE WAS A PARENT LIKE YOU, A CLASSMATE, A TEACHER, AND A FRIEND WHO STOOD BY ME AND ACCEPTED ME FOR WHO I WAS.
AND AFTER MANY YEARS AWAY FROM HERE ON MY OWN JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND CHANGE, I REALIZED THAT HASTINGS HAS CHANGED AS WELL FROM A PLACE OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS TO ONE OF COURAGE, ACCEPTANCE, AND GROWTH YEAR AFTER YEAR.
WHEN I CAME BACK TO THIS LITTLE VILLAGE, I SAW THIS TOWN AND FELT IT BECOME MORE OF AN INCLUSIVE PLACE.
AND THAT'S WHY MY HUSBAND AND I, ELLIOT
WHEN I THINK OF OUR AMAZING VILLAGE, I'M REMINDED THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST LIGHT CAN ELIMINATE THE DARKEST PATH TO A MORE KIND AND LOVING WORLD.
SO THANK YOU TO SO MANY OF YOU WHO DID THAT FOR ME AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE FOR YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MONIQUE, AND WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT YOU DECIDED TO MOVE BACK.
UM, SO OUR NEXT SINGERS, WE ARE GOING TO WELCOME BACK, UM, TWO FOLKS.
YOU HAVE HEARD DANIEL BELL NAVIS SING ALREADY.
SO YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.
UM, BUT JASMINE EDWARDS ALSO HAS A BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THEM IS THAT THEY ARE BOTH ROCK STARS IN MY FIELD, IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC THERAPY.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY INCREDIBLY TALENTED SINGERS AND VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS, UM, THEY'RE ALSO AMAZING MUSIC THERAPISTS, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF.
SO PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE DANIELLE AND JASMINE.
AND BEFORE, UH, WE WERE SETTING UP, BRIAN REMINDED ME THAT TODAY IS ALSO A LOVING DAY, WHICH MARKS, UM, WHEN, UH, INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES WERE LEGALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1967.
AND THE DATE IS REALLY STRIKING BECAUSE 1967 WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO.
AND IT FEELS LIKE A GOOD REMINDER THAT ALL OF THESE MOVEMENTS, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, DISABILITY RIGHTS, AND GAY RIGHTS ARE SIBLING MOVEMENTS.
THAT THEY ARE INTERLOCKING AND OUR LIBERATION IS DEPENDENT ON ONE ANOTHER.
[01:45:16]
I WAKE UP THE TROUBLE SMELL BLUEBIRD FLY FLY THAT YOU DIDN'T NOTICE.IT'S HARD TO BREATHE THE RISING.
WELL, THE SKIES WIND AND RAIN, BUT YOU STUCK OUT IN THE SAME STORM AGAIN, HI TO YOUR UMBRELLA, ALWAYS RAINBOW.
AND YOU'LL FIND BECAUSE THE SKY IS FINALLY THE RAIN WIND STOP.
BUT YOU'RE STUCK OUT IN THE SAME OLD AGAIN.
LET GO TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, SIX FIVE.
[01:50:01]
MY GOODNESS.I FEEL LIKE MK DANCE IS HAPPENING.
[01:57:19]
YES.THIS IS MY FIRST EVER CHOREOGRAPHED PERFORMED PIECE.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE GIRLS.
ANYTIME YOU GOT YOUR FINGER ON, PUT YOUR TRIGGER.
[02:00:26]
WATCH YOUR, SORRY.GREAT JOB LADIES AND GREAT JOB LILY.
SHEENA IS A BRONX NATIVE, AN NYU MUSICAL THEATER GRAD AND FORMER PERFORMER.
SHE TRADED THE STAGE FOR EVENT MARKETING AND HAS WORKED AT PLACES LIKE TWITTER, TIKTOK, AND PINTEREST BECAUSE APPARENTLY SHE LOVES THE DRAMA.
SHE'S THE PRO LAMA OF A FEISTY 4-YEAR-OLD, OCCASIONAL LEAD SINGER OF A COVER BAND AND THE FUTURE OCCUPANT OF A HOUSE ON ROSEDALE THAT'S TAKING A HUNDRED YEARS TO BUILD.
SHEENA, WHERE ARE YOU? OH, YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND.
I AM NOT A STRANGER TO THE DARK.
'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT YOUR BROKEN POTS.
LEARN TO BE SHAME OF ALL MY HIDE AWAY.
THEY SAY, NO ONE WILL LOVE YOU AS YOU'RE, BUT I WON'T LET THEM DOWN.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A, WHEN THE SHARPEST WORDS WANNA ME DOWN, I'M GONNA, I BRAVE I'D I MEANT TO BE.
I NOT SCARED TO BE SEEN A THIS
[02:05:01]
ANOTHER ROUND HITS MY SKIN FIRE AWAY.BECAUSE TODAY I WON'T LET THE WE THROUGH THE P.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ELIJAH AS WELL.
WE NOW HAVE COMING UP FOR IKA.
SHE'S ALSO FROM DOBBS FERRY AND CURRENTLY STUDYING MUSICAL THEATER AT BOSTON CONSERVATORY.
SO YOUR BEST FRIENDS PUT YOU OVER ACTING NICE.
I HAVE SOME ADVICE THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME TWICE.
IT ALWAYS, BECAUSE THE WORLD END, IT JUST LIKE, AND SWEAR WHATEVER THEY SAY ABOUT ME, I YOU DON'T CARE.
I WANT NOT TO JOIN THEIR GAMES.
I'LL SAY YOU AND I'LL SAY IF I NEED ALONE MOMENT, IT'S JUST WHAT I WOULD DO.
I'D RATHER BE, I'D RATHER BE YOU WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ALL AND BE NURTURING.
AND THAT REALLY WE HAVE TO SHARE WAY THAT IT TURNS OUT.
UNDERSTAND NOT I FIGHT RATHER I'LL SAY NO.
I'LL SAY THE RULES IN YOUR GAMES SHOULD FOLLOW.
[02:10:21]
I'D RATHER, OH, MIKA, YOU SIGNED AMAZING.AND LASTLY, WE HAVE OBI AWARD WINNING STAR OF THE 2020 THIRD, 20 AWARD WINNER FOR BEST MUSICAL AND STRANGE LOOP.
WHO IS CURRENTLY AT THE CITY CENTER DURING BA KAJA FALL? JAMES JACKSON JR.
HOW ARE WE DOING? IT'S THE END OF THE NIGHT, RIGHT? WE GOT RAINED OUT, BUT I THINK THIS WAS A LOT BETTER.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH SOME RAY CHARLES BECAUSE WHY NOT? LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT A BOY.
HE'S MY BABY AND HE LIVES THAT STORE.
SEE, EVERY MORNING BO SUN COMES UP.
HE BRINGS ME COFFEE IN MY FAVORITE CUP.
SO WHEN I'M IN TROUBLE AND I HAVE NO FRIENDS, I KNOW HE'LL GO WITH ME.
UNTIL THEN, EVERYBODY ASKS ME HOW I KNOW.
I SMILE AT THEM AND SAY, HE TOLD ME.
SO NOW IF I CALL HIM ON THE TELEPHONE AND TELL HIM THAT I'M ON ALONE, BY THE TIME I COME FROM WONDERFUL.
I HEAR HIM ON MY DOOR EVERY MORNING BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP, PLEASE IN MY, EVERYBODY ASK ME HOW I KNOW.
I SMILE AT THEM AND SAY IT ME.
NOW IF I CALL HIM ON THE TELEPHONE AND TELL HIM I'M ALONE, FIND THE TIME COUNT FROM WONDERFUL.
I HEAR HIM ON MY DOOR IN THE EVENING WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THERE IS NOBODY ELSE AROUND.
HE KISSES ME AND HE HOLDS ME TIGHT.
HE TELLS ME, DADDY, EVERYTHING'S ALL AROUND.
UH, I SANG THIS AT HASTINGS PRIDE BEFORE, BUT I FELT LIKE SINGING IT AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK THE MESSAGE STILL APPLIES.
I LOVE A CHILD OF THE EIGHTIES AND PAT BENATAR MEANS SOMETHING IF YOU ARE OF A CERTAIN AGE.
UH, AND I THINK WE ALL BELONG.
UM, THANKS FOR HAVING ME FRIENDS, AND HAPPY PRIDE
[02:15:11]
MANY TIMES I TO THE DOUBTS COMPLICATE YOUR WE BELONG TO THE LIGHT, WE BELONG TO THE THUNDER.WE BELONG TO THE, WE BELONG TO THE SOUND OF THE WORDS WE BOTH FALLEN UNDER.
TRY HEAR YOUR VOICE INSIDE ME.
WE BELONG TO THE LIFE WE BELONG TO THE WE BELONG TO THE OF THE HAPPY PRIDE.
HASTINGS, PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE FOR OUR FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE EVENING, THE COMBINED CHOIRS OF
[02:20:01]
HASTINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.ALRIGHTY, THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I'M STALLING JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I'M HOPING THAT ONE OF MY SOLOISTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL WHO I'VE NOT SEEN ALL NIGHT LONG MAGICALLY APPEARS, BUT IF NOT WILL LIVE.
UM, MARK MILLER IS A WELL-KNOWN, UH, BLACK AND QUEER COMPOSER.
UM, YOU KNOW IT, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE IVYS OR IN THE RELIGIOUS FIELD OR BOTH, HE'S A YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL, UH, FACULTY MEMBER, UM, SPECIALIZED IN GOSPEL MUSIC.
AND THIS IS DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE, VERY SIMPLE LYRICS, BUT ALL ABOUT INCLUSION.
SOME OF OUR FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS ASK, WHAT DOES DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE MEANS? IT MEANS MAKE THE CIRCLE BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.
SO, ALRIGHT, SOME, I THOUGHT SOMEONE CALLED MY NAME, BUT THEY DID NOT.
UM, SO LEWIS SAW THIS ARE KAREN SALTZMAN AND CARLIN AND ANDY MCKINNON DRAW THE DRAW THE DRAW BY SIDE, DRAW THE
[02:25:43]
SEASONS OF LOVE FROM RENT, WHICH IF I GET THE MONTH EXACTLY RIGHT, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A MUSICAL THEATER BUFF THAT'LL KEEP ME HONEST.BUT IF I'M REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT TURNS 30 IN OCTOBER.
SEE, SO WE COULDN'T NOT DO SEASONS OF LOVE SOLOISTS, LEE JACOBS, CRUZ LOPEZ, AND CHIO CHRIST.
AND I THINK WE'LL SEGUE STRAIGHT INTO OUR TRADITIONAL FRIDAY NIGHT CLOSER, CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON'S MASHUP OF I LOVE YOU AND WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD SOLOIST ON THAT IS.
HOW DO YOU, THE LIFE OF A WOMAN THAT SHE LEARNED WE CAN BE TOGETHER NOW AND FOREVER.
I LOVE YOU AND YOU I LOVE YOU PEOPLE
[02:30:02]
OPENING.THEY'RE COMING AND THEY'RE, I YOU, I, I, I, I LOVE.
ALRIGHT, ONE MORE HAND FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS, PLEASE.
AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR EVENING TOGETHER.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT DESPITE THE WEATHER, FOR THE HEAT IN HERE, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BRAVED TO COME TOGETHER FOR PRIDE TO CELEBRATE WITH US TONIGHT.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN NEXT YEAR.