“Mind you: We should never as human beings ever have to ASK to be included.  It is our right as living members, as human beings, in this world to be INCLUDED and RESPECTED under our societally created construct.” Dominique Jackson

Lovely model, actor, and activist Dominique Jackson, who achieved worldwide fame for playing the sharp-tongued, no-nonsense house mother and ballroom champion Elektra on Pose, partnered with Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) on Friday, June 28 to launch New York City LGBTQ Pride.  Jackson was chosen to light the Empire State Building to kick off the much-anticipated Pride weekend.  With her striking presence, articulate style of speaking, and well-earned respected status in the LGBTQ community for decades, Ms. Jackson could not have been a better choice.  

The ceremony started with an introduction by Stacy Lentz, co-owner of the legendary Stonewall Inn and co-founder of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.  Lentz pointed out that the day was the 55th anniversary of the historical Stonewall riots, which is largely credited to having launched the modern-day worldwide LGBTQ rights movement. “I want to remind everyone that the fight we started in 1969 on Christopher Street at the Stonewall Inn is not over.  It’s our job to pick up that torch and carry on the tradition of fighting back for full global equality.  And I can’t think of a better person to have us light up this official Pride ceremony than actress, activist, and one of Stonewall’s own, Dominique Jackson!”

Jackson truly captivated the audience with her speech, which both honored the past heroes of the fight for equality while reminding us to keep our eyes on the future:  “To my ballroom elders and pioneers, icons, legends, stars, and statesmen– Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, and every trans person, especially of color, out there that understands marginalization and oppression firsthand and what it takes to be determined enough to face the hardships of our existence, and still fight and thrive– I salute you and I thank you.  To my sisters that are no longer with us– taken from us violently– I thank you for your sacrifice.  But we do miss you. And we wish you could be here to celebrate in the joys that you have helped to create: the lives that we are able to live right now.  Because, your murders gave visibility to the fact that we are very, very much oppressed.   Finally, but not least– and I love this– thank you to Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative for your continuous hard work and your resilience in our fight to be free and to be us. Stacy and your board, I thank you all so much! To the Empire State Building, I thank you for doing what is right!”

The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) is a non-profit charitable organization inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Uprising of 1969. It is committed to eliminating the social intolerance that is impacting the lives of LGBTQ citizens throughout America and abroad.  Visit www.StonewallInitiative.org for more info.