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Summer of 2010: History in the Making!!!

FIERCE Continues the Fight to Keep the West Village Safe for LGBTQ Youth

FIERCE E-Zine: an online publication by FIERCE Media Crew | Christopher Baez, Active Member | Tuesday September 7, 2010 7:14

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Summer of 2010: History in the Making!!!

Ever since our start in 2000, FIERCE has fought to keep Christopher Street safe for LGBTQ youth of color. Because the Piers have been a safe space for so many youth, we want to make sure that they stay safe. Many youth are left homeless after they come out to their families. Often times, members from our community face struggles such as oppression, gentrification, police brutality, homophobia, transphobia and sexism. Many FIERCE members have testified that the pier saved their lives.  


FIERCE continuously strives to promote a safe space in and for our communities. We want to create a world where everyone is welcome and can just be themselves—a world where you can come as you are and not face discrimination or threats of violence.


In 2005, we launched our Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign to ensure the needs of LGBT youth of color were not forgotten in the wake of the development of the Christopher Street Pier. FIERCE members have worked hard over the past several years to gain a seat at table when it comes to making decisions on the pier. 

 

 

In 2009, the screening of "Paris is Burning" and the first-ever Global Warming Mini-Ball marked important victories for the Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign.  Until then, there had never been official programming on the pier for LGBTQ youth.  And the Global Warming Mini-Ball featured performances by Vogue Evolution!  Last year, FIERCE also became an official member of the Hudson River Park Trust Advisory Council.

 

 

 

This summer, we were excited to continue our free programming with three movie screenings on Hudson River Park's Pier 46, a series of wellness programs on the pier, and an Artistic Night.

 

 


 

 

On Saturday, August 28, we held our biggest Event of the Summer!  FIERCE, the Kiki Coalition and Friends of Hudson River Park proudly presented A Night in New York ~ our 2nd Annual Mini-Ball on Pier 46.  Over 800 people turned out to this amazing event, which featured performances by LGBTQ youth and some fierce competition on the runway.  The event was free and open to the public.

 

 

You can visit our YouTube channel and Flickr account to view highlights from our 2010 Summer Programming.

 

 

Our voice and our presence as members of the LGBTQ community are rising. There is much more work to be done!  You can support our campaigns by:

 

1.     Turn out to events.  Be sure to stay tuned to our website and sign up for our mailing list to receive breaking news and updates.

2.     Signing our petition of support for a 24 LGBTQ youth center on Pier 40

3.     Make a donation to FIERCE to help support our work to build LGBTQ youth of color power

 

 

 

 

 

About the FIERCE E-Zine:

The E-Zine is an online publication by FIERCE Media Crew for other LGBTQ youth within and outside of NYC.  The E-Zine will highlight FIERCE's work, programs and events; feature stories and reflections from LGBTQ youth about their experiences; member profiles; ally features; articles on fashion, music, movies; and videos, photography, art, and poetry projects produced by FIERCE members.