2013 pride event, which will feature nearly 100 different entertainers, speakers, and organizations.

 The event will be held on “Keeping in line with doing things differently, our pride event will be different from other borough’s events at its very core  as  it  will  incorporate  a  health  fair,  where  over  12  health-oriented  organizations  will  provide  on-site  health screenings that will include rapid HIV testing, blood glucose/diabetes screenings & blood pressure testings, and more.

More than 40 organizations in total have signed on to provide information and outreach to pride participants,” statedPeter C. Frank, the Center’s secretary, who also chairs their pride committee.

This year’s event is co-hosted by internationally-renown drag entertainers Appolonia Cruz

& Tyra A. Ross, with Lady Clover Honey serving as the event’s Welcome Maven. Billboard

Top 20 and MTV/LOGO recording artist Adam Barta, who is a Bronx native, will headline the event: “I’m super-excited to be rocking it out in my hometown where I was born and raised!

Can’t wait to see how Bronx does it best. And I’m so happy to be supporting such a great, new

organization,” Mr. Barta exclaimed when recently speaking about performing. He will preview his new duet with RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Pandora Boxx in his performance on Saturday.

“I support the new Bronx LGTBQ Center because they have proven to me that they are

serious about helping our Bronx LGBTQ community by putting this much needed 2013 Bronx

Gay Pride Festival / Health Fair together with zero funding, based solely on donations from

our community and supporters. All the NYC boroughs had their Gay Pride Festivals this past June & the Bronx Needed one too,” Ms. Cruz stated.

The performances will run the gamut of genres ranging from opera singer David White to

hip-hop artist  Lovari. A host of drag entertainers will be on hand, including  Diva Jackie

Dupree, who delivers  an amazing  Whitney Houston performance using live  vocals. Indie

Latina band Rok Fairies, reggae singer Barnacle Bill, R&B artist India M., pop performance artist Shadina, and rising artists Caiike and Sylvestri are just some of the nearly 40 entertainers who will perform during the six-hour pride festival.

Scheduled to appear and speak during the event are both the only father-son  and mother-daughter team of elected officials representing one area: NYC Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo  and her mother, NYS Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo, along with NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano and his father, Congressman Jose E. Serrano, who will spend a significant portion of their day celebrating pride with their constituents. NYC Council Speaker  Christine C.Quinn will be on hand to celebrate with her fellow LGBTQ community, while Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.and other elected officials will also make appearances.

This year’s event was in jeopardy when the nascent organization was advised late last month of a few thousands of dollars in fees that needed to be paid to the NYC Parks Department, more than a month after they were advised the permit was approved. A number of organizations and individuals stepped forward since then to save the event: “We are thrilled to be able to support Bronx Pride in bringing these magical events to life for 2013. Giving back and helping to inspire the LGBTQ community has always been part of the mission for Heritage of Pride / NYC Pride. We are happy to be able to help in a time of need after coming off of an historic year for the community. We look forward to celebrating with our Bronx LGBTQ community members on July 20th,” says Heritage of Pride’s Managing Director, Chris Frederick.

Tym Moss, the Center’s president, added, “We are so very, very grateful to all of the individuals and organizations that came forward to ensure that our pride event would take place this year and the Bronx would not be forgotten, especially to Union Community Health Center, our neighbor to the South, Heritage of Pride / NYC Pride, and the Human Rights Campaign. And of course, we thank all of our entertainers & speakers, all of whom are so generously giving of their time.”at Crotona Park from 12 – 6 pm at the amphitheater south of Indian Lake, north of the picnic area.