‘Resilience is an art form’: Brisport honors queer activists, slams ‘haters’ in Pride month speech

Brooklyn state Sen. Jabari Brisport told anti-gay "haters" to "give up" on Wednesday as the body passed a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New York State. 

The resolution, introduced every year, recognizes struggles and celebrations of the queer community in New York and across the country, from Stonewall to marriage equality to recent anti-LGBTQIA+ laws passed by federal and state governments. 

“The month of June reminds us of all the achievements of the past and highlights the work that remains to be done,” it reads. 

Brisport, who has represented parts of Fort Greene, Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy since 2021, said he is the first openly-gay person of color to serve in the state Senate, and is one of only two openly-queer state Senators in office today. [caption id="attachment_202553" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Brisport said he is the first openly gay person of color to serve as a New York State senator. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann[/caption]

Standing on the Senate floor on Wednesday, he wished a happy Pride month to the queer community before turning his attention to those seeking to oppress them.

“Actually though. Give up,” he said. “If it were possible to create a world without queer people you would have managed it by now. Throughout history you have demonized us, ostracized us, harassed us, assaulted us, criminalized us, sterilized us, killed us, censored us, fired us, evicted us, and denied us medical care. Yet still, here we are, looking fabulous.” 

Queer people in the U.S. have been fighting for liberation for decades, Brisport said, referencing William Dorsey Swann, a gay man born into slavery in Maryland in 1860. 

In the late 1800s, Swann organized drag balls in Washington, D.C., mostly for formerly-enslaved men. He called himself “the queen of drag.” He was eventually sentenced to jail for false charges of running a brothel, and after his release, demanded a pardon from President Grover Cleveland. 

“When he and his guests were arrested during police raids of his events, he did not suffer in silence,” Brisport said. “He fostered an equally proud tradition of advocacy for queer liberation.”

The tradition continued 1969, he said, when Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson — who is memorialized at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg — led the Stonewall uprising.  [caption id="attachment_223114" align="aligncenter" width="700"] The senator said queer New Yorkers will continue to dance, celebrate, and march in the streets during Pride month. File photo by Adrian Childress[/caption]

“See, for queer people, resilience is an art form that’s been handed down through generations of found-family and perfected over centuries,” Brisport said.

He asked people to think about why anti-gay leaders are pushing to erase queer people, and what they would gain — if anything. 

“Your hate can harm us. Your hate can even end lives,” Brisport said. “But your hate cannot bring you peace. Your hate cannot win you a higher wage, affordable medical care, clean air, or lower energy bills. Above all, your hate cannot end our movement.”

Meanwhile, he said, queer people continue to celebrate, dance, march and honor the legacies of those who came before — like Swann, Johnson, Rivera and more.