Kiley’s Lewks Capture Poughkeepsie Pride
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Kiley J. Winn is from Kansas. [Insert Dorothy joke here] But he presents like royalty from Oz.
He currently resides in Poughkeepsie, New York, where’s he’s become an indelible part of the LGBT community and a fashion icon. Winn is a stylist at the Bella Luci Salon.
#DoOrDies
This is how you Halloween.
Poughkeepsie’s First Pride.
ILOVEUALL.#gay#queer#drinks#friends#love#fun#ig#sexy#lol#afro#brasserie#june#ovah#blonde#???????????? @ Brasserie 292
‘We did this’: Poughkeepsie hosts first pride parade, festival
Walking down Main Street in the City of Poughkeepsie, Tea Ng takes a moment to look around.
Ng, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them, is surrounded by friends, families and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Like a wave, people dressed in colorful rainbows march in support for equality for all.
“This is Poughkeepsie’s first pride,” they said. “And we did this.”
Ng’s said their mother helped create the Dutchess County Pride Center to serve the local LGBTQ+ community near Poughkeepsie, who otherwise would have to travel to Kingston. Last year, the center’s leadership pushed for the city’s first pride weekend and parade.
“I feel so grateful,” Ng said. “I have a lot friends who would kill to be here and they can’t because they’re not out to their parents.”
Thousands participated in the city’s first pride parade and festival nearly fifty years after the stonewall riots in Greenwich Village. LGBTQ+ community members, allies and elected officials marched in from Market Street in vibrant colors down Main Street to Waryas Park where a festival awaited.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro proclaimed June 7-9 as the inaugural Poughkeepsie Pride Weekend. The festivities kicked off at the city’s monthly First Friday event which was held at the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factor and was followed by a rainbow sidewalk painting and picnic on Saturday.
Karen Marder, executive director of the Dutchess County Pride Center and co-chair of weekend pride events, said the creation of a pride parade in the city was important to the center.
“We march to honor Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera and all the brave individuals who started it all 50 years ago during the Stonewall riots of 1969,” Marder said. “We march because a brick started a revolution. We march because there is still so much more to do until every person, every single one of you, regardless of your sexuality or your gender identity can live your life freely.”
Read the full Poughkeepsie Journal story here.
