She kicked off the Pride celebration with a tribute to the late activist and drag king Stormé Delarverie, who died at 94 last month, and by honoring transgender activist Chase Strangio, founder of the Lorena Borjas Community Fund that provides bail and bond help to LGBTQ immigrants in criminal and immigration cases. Patrick’s Day parade in March.ĭiversity and a progressive commitment on display in Cooper Union’s Great Hall Melissa Mark-Viverito, who succeeded out lesbian Christine Quinn as Council speaker, said that the LGBT community “is my political and personal family,” talked about her two gay brothers, and promised to be “a fierce advocate and ally” - something she demonstrated when she pulled the Council’s banner from the anti-gay St. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito | DONNA ACETO
