A nationally recognized artist along with a SiriusXM radio show host, teachers and two community organizers are the professions of the seven individuals recognized by the City of Peekskill during Pride Month. Their achievements and contributions where honored before the Monday, June 24 Common Council meeting. 

Mayor Vivian McKenzie presented proclamations to V.L. Cox, Derek Hartley, Marybeth McGowan, Marjie Kemper, Charles DiGruccio, and John-Paul Cardo Roman. Steve Kollias, who was not present at the ceremony, was also honored.

“I am thrilled today to be able to recognize some very wonderful people in our community who really hold our community together,” McKenzie said. “They are the glue of the community. And it’s no matter who you love and who you are, these are good people, and they want to make sure that Peekskill just thrives, just like everybody else.”

Marybeth McGowan, a prior Common Council member, and her wife Leslie Masson were the first LGBTQ couple to be married in the City of Peekskill. 

“You welcomed me and my spouse with open arms,” McGowan said of Peekskill. “You made us feel not only accepted, but truly at home. The sense of belonging of being seen and valued means more than words can express. This recognition is not just about me though. It’s about all of us who have worked to create a community where everyone can live authentically and with dignity.”

McGowan, a founding member of Peekskill Pride who served as its inaugural vice president, worked tirelessly through the organization to foster a more inclusive and supportive community throughout the city, McKenzie said.

Both as a council member and beyond, McGowan has been a courageous voice for justice, equality and the well-being of all Peekskill residents, McKenzie said. She also served on the Juneteenth Committee for ten years.

Honoree Marjie Kemper, the director of the Fourth Fridays, Peekskill’s monthly social program for LGBTQIA+ high school youth and their allies, is a dedicated advocate and organizer who works tirelessly to create a much-needed space for young people to be their authentic selves, McKenzie said.

Kemper is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aide and volunteers at an equine therapy program which supports children, veterans and incarcerated women. She also serves as Inclusivity Team Chair for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Hudson Valley, advocating for equity and belonging in spiritual and community life.

She recently was honored with the Lehrer Prize for community Well-Being Award, a recognition celebrating individuals whose efforts make a meaningful impact on life in New York.

Resident Charles DiGruccio is a high school teacher in the New York City School District and serves as the current president of Peekskill Pride. He is also a volunteer at the monthly Fourth Fridays Program.

“It was members of Peekskill Pride and the queer community that first welcomed me here to Peekskill, and I am so grateful for their welcome and making me feel part of this community,” DiGruccio said. “It means so much to be able to give back to the city and the LGBTQUIA+ because it means so much to be welcomed and accepted.”

McKenzie said DiGruccio is an advocate and role model for young people, who are navigating their identities, and a champion for the youth and helps them to find the courage to live authentically. 

DiGruccio is running for an open seat on the Common Council on a Democratic slate.

Resident Derek Hartley is the co-host of the SiriusXM radio show, “Derek and Romaine,” which provides  “an affirming and entertaining” platform for LGBTQ+ listeners across the country. Guests on the show have included Martha Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson and the late Oliva Newton-John. 

“For a homebody known primarily for his work in radio, the irony of being honored for my visibility is not lost on me,” Hartley said. “But visibility takes many forms and the value of your visibility is the revelations it can inspire in others.”

In addition, Hartley shares his voice and experiences through screenplays and literature in works such as “When Nightlife Falls” and “Colonade: A Life in Columns,” which explore themes of identity, belonging and vibrant realities of queer life, McKenzie said.

John-Paul Cardo Roman, the owner of Peekskill’s Persephone’s Pearl store, was described as a vital part of Peekskill’s cultural and spiritual community. He also provides a space that supports emotional wellness, ancestral healing and LGBTQIA+ empowerment.

McKenzie said Persephone’s Pearl welcomes everyone into their unique environment with various backgrounds and faith traditions, adding it was especially important in bridging the gap between the Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. 

“As a retired teacher, I’m really used to running around doing things and never getting any recognition for it, so this is a really big honor for me,” Cardo Roman said. “I’ve lived in Peekskill for five years now, and the community has been so welcoming, not just to me, but to my whole family.”

V.L. Cox, a visual artist and activist, has brought national attention to struggles faced by LGBTQ+ Native Americans through public art installations such as the “End of Hate Doors” and “Break Glass” exhibitions. 

Her exhibit, the “End Hate Doors” which has been displayed throughout the country, is showing for the first time in the Hudson Valley now through September 28 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cox will be speaking at the opening reception on Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m.

McKenzie said Cox’s artistic courage and contributions to civil rights and the LGBTQ+ community “inspire future generations to embrace diversity, stand up against hate and work towards a more inclusive society.”

Steve Kollias, a high school teacher in Mount Vernon, serves as an advisor for the Mock Trial Team. He guides students to gain a better understanding of civic engagement and the justice system.

Kollias also serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of Peekskill Pride. The proclamation stated he is a pillar of the local LGBTQ+ community and helps to foster the ideals of inclusiveness, dignity and equity.

In addition, he is the Chair of the Peekskill Democratic City Committee, which endorsed Mayor McKenzie for re-election in January, the president of the board of directors for Support Connection, and a member of the Grievance Committee for the 9th Judicial District.

The City of Peekskill will be holding its 5th edition of Family Pride In The Park on Saturday, June 28 at 2 p.m. at Pugsley Park.