Speaker Christine C. Quinn
February 2012
LGBT and HIV/AIDS Community Report
Dear New Yorker,
I wanted to share some exciting news.
First, please join me and City Council Members Danny Dromm, Rosie Mendez, Jimmy Van Bramer and me this Sunday, March 4th as we march together in the St. Pat's for All parade in Sunnyside,
The St. Pat's for All parade is the first in more than two and half centuries of NYC Irish parades to be open and welcoming to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The parade's theme, "Cherishing all the Children of the Nation Equally", is taken from the 1916 Easter Proclamation of the Irish Republic . It's an opportunity for all of us to come together in our diversity and to honor our common humanity and heritage.
I hope you can join us! Further information and details are listed below:
2012 St. Pat's For All Parade
Sunday, March 4th
Sunnyside,
Remarks, Music and Dance: 1 pm
Parade: 2 pm
Meet at 12:30 pm sharp at corner of
Parade begins at
Grand Marshals
Political historian and novelist Peter Quinn
and
Mary Brosnahan, Executive Director of The Coalition for Homeless.
Subway/Bus Directions:
NOTE: There are NO 7 trains running between
Take N or Q to
Or
Take the R train to
Or
Take the E or F trains to
*Please check www.mta.info/ for any train or bus service updates.
To RSVP, email events@council.nyc.gov or call (212) 788-6687. And don't forget to share our Facebook invite with your friends: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196725123679237 . The more, the merrier.
See you this Sunday!
* * * * *
In other exciting news, I'm very happy to report that our 3rd Annual Respect for All (RFA) Week was a great success.
For the past three years, we've been working with principals, teachers and advocates to help make sure our school kids feel safe and respected all year round as part of our Respect for All Initiative.
During our 3rd Annual RFA Week, which took place from February 13th to 17th, students in schools across the five boroughs took part in programs and activities that taught them to value diversity and respect one another. They also received important information on where to go to for help if they or someone they know has been a victim of bullying or harassment.
And this year, for the first time ever, we were thrilled to recognize students and staff at 24 schools that have really taken the lead on RFA with our "Respect for All" Award.
I want to thank the NYC Department of Education, the United Federation of Teachers, and the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators for working with us to continue and expand our Respect for All program. RFA is a great example of what we can accomplish as a city when we work together to combat bullying and harassment and help make sure our kids have access to a quality education.
Special thanks as well to all of the community advocates and religious leaders whose dedication, support and involvement have been critical to the success of this program.
You can check out some of the highlights from this year's RFA Week, including videos of our RFA partners discussing their anti-bullying work, by clicking on the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA3Tbs_FvAA
http://www.youtube.com/user/NYCCouncil
http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/mediarelations/NewsandSpeeches/2011-2012/rfaweekrelease21012.htm
And, if you have children in school, please take a moment to call your principal and ask them what activities happened during RFA week and what their RFA plan is for your child's school. If they don't have a rigorous plan in place, please encourage them to do so. Parents and guardians can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to creating a school culture that values and embraces diversity.