We’re excited to invite you to our 17th annual Pride celebration on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at Washington Park in Albany, New York!

This year is our inaugural Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) Pride celebration. Formerly Black & Latino Gay Pride, BIPOC Pride is our fun, family-friendly way of recognizing the contributions, resilience and struggles of LGBTQIA+ BIPOC individuals and families in the Capital Region of New York.

Join us for a month full of events and activities centered around the lives, experiences, and contributions of LGBTQIA+ People of Color featuring music, spoken word, dance, comedy, poetry, community forums, performances, and more!

ANGIE STONE

Grammy nominated singer Angie Stone is one of those artists with a Midas touch. Her buttery smooth honey-toned pipes, undeniable gritty soulfulness and epic songwriting talents have been called upon by everyone from Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. Rolling Stone Magazine once declared, “When soul music was in the lost and found, she came along to claim it.” It is this belief that has made Stone the go-to woman for three different record labels when they were creating a new sound and vision. In the 70s, it was Angie Stone who helped to define the sound of the now legendary Sugar Hill Records as a member of the first recorded female rap group, Sequence. Their hit, “Funk You Up,” is a classic that gets folks moving to this day! Fast forward, Clive Davis tapped Stone’s iconic sound in the early 2000s, when he launched J Records. She recorded her gold-selling Mahogany Soul for the label and Stone Love. The in- demand Renaissance woman moves seamlessly from the studio and stage (she’s starred on Broadway) to television and silver screen without missing a beat. A legend in this tough business, Angie Stone stands in a class by herself. In September 2013 BET/CENTRIC made Stone the focus of their acclaimed “Being” artist profile series, capturing just how amazing this dynamic’s life and career has been.

A DJ SET BY NINA SKY

Born and raised in New York City, twin sisters Nicole and Natalie Albino, also known as Nina Sky, entered the Billboard Charts in 2004 with their massive hit “Move Ya Body.” That same year, the sisters’ infectious chorus on NORE’s reggaeton anthem “Oye Mi Canto,” propelled the song to mainstream crossover success. Since their debut, they’ve established their names in the music industry not only as singers and songwriters but well-respected DJʼs for some of the world’s most elite brands.

Musical collaborators include Diplo, Sean Paul, Salaam Remi and Pitbull among others. As DJʼs, they’ve curated sets for The Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MOMA), Supreme, the GLAAD Awards, MAC and more. The authenticity they embody as artists has created a boundless stream of opportunity. They’ve traveled the world performing on stages from Dubai to Milan Fashion week. Their progression artistically is evident not only sonically but is displayed as their ever-changing sense of style that has developed them into fashion icons both on the New York City scene and in pages of magazines.

In 2022 Nicole and Natalie expanded their repertoire even more, joining Apple Music as the hosts of Pure Throwback; a daily show guiding listeners through indelible pop hits from the ʼ80s, ʼ90s, and early 2000s .With experience, self-awareness, and an array of musical projects under their belt, the twins have stayed connected to their fans on a massive level. Together, Nina Sky continue to prove that the sky is most definitely the limit.

JEWEL THE GEM | 2023 BI POC PRIDE MC

Born and raised in Brooklyn, East New York, with Haitian blood through her veins, Jewel The Gem is a Black Queer Femme artist, entertainer, speaker and activist. Her overarching ambition to amplify the voice of the unheard and inspire many to leave their comfort zone and take risks to achieve their goals in life is one of the many reasons she fell in love with creating music.

The ebb and flow of modern day contemporary Hip Hop music is often disrupted by enigmas who dare to challenge the status quo of the industry. Her debut album “Ratchet Revolution” undeniably proves Jewel The Gem to be a fearless rapper, vocalist, and trendsetter who cuts across eras with her immaculate wordplay that inspires and moves audiences. Jewel The Gem’s unapologetic representation and charismatic personality combined with her indisputable skill to captivate a crowd, has allowed her to build an extensive resume of over 15 years; hosting parties, festivals, networking events and open mics to summits & showcases. She has been featured from BET to Fox Soul for her dynamic work as a radical voice of the people. She has recently been named as GO Magazine, Class of 2023 “Women We Love” and has her own radio show on Hits92.3 in Atlanta that exclusively centers the Black Queer and Trans Community. With her humor, wit and vibrant demeanor Jewel The Gem is now and will always be the hostess with the mostest.

TAÍNA ASILI

Taína Asili is a New York-based Puerto Rican singer, composer, and activist carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. Asili’s Afro-Latin fusion songs of love and liberation have inspired audiences at venues across the globe – From the Women’s March on Washington to Carnegie Hall to the mainstage of San Francisco Pride. Her freedom anthems and music videos inspired by social movements for racial, gender, and climate justice have been lauded by the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Huffington Post, Paste, and NPR. Asili uses a multi-genre and multilingual approach to connect with a diverse array of audiences, confidently weaving between rock, reggae, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, and hip hop to give her music a texture that’s unique yet rooted. With powerful vocls and infectious rhythms, Asili’s music urges people to dance to the rhythm of rebellion.

LONDON JAE PRECISE

London Jae Precise, CEO and Mother of The House of Precise Inc., a non-profit building shelters for homeless youth in the Hudson Valley, Precise Nation & Gay Politics. Originally from Brooklyn, growing up in both the NYC Ballroom scene & Albany Social scene, On her own at a young age, London built up the courage to follow her dreams of becoming an entertainer, a world leader and community servant.

With several pageant titles, a N.Y. headlining status and 3 weekly shows including the Legendary Stonewall Inn (NYC) & Rocks ( Albany,NY), London continues to create a meaningful impact on the lives of many. Enjoy her Beyoncé impersonation or her heartfelt live vocals! London is a mother of many, for ways to support House of Precise,Inc. and all housing efforts visit www.thehouseofprecise.com

@londonjaeprecise @houseofprecise on all social media platforms.

ULTRA VIOLET

Ultra Violet is making her BIPOC Pride debut, and is extremely excited to represent the community she loves. Ultra brings a sass and energy to the stage she learned right here in Albany NY. Ultra found her passion in drama and dance club at Albany High School and continued this journey into adulthood (even dancing on Soul Train in the late 90’s). Ultra has performed dance solos at the Egg, and has performed locally in various venues for many years. Ultra developed a passion for drag during the pandemic, and decided to add the art form to her list of crafts. You can see Ultra perform locally at Waterworks Pub, Rocks, and Margarita City. Special shout to IOOV and the managers of our local LGBTQA establishments. I love you all and I would not be here without you.

DJ JEMINI

Born and raised in NYC, DJ Jeminii grew up in a house where a variety of music was always being played – helping him to develop an ear and appreciation for music at an early age. When DJ Jeminii decided to pursue DJing as a career, he had help from The Original Spindarella (formally of Salt n Pepa), as well as local DJ’s from NY. After making a name for himself DJing private events it would only be a matter of time before he was catching the attention of promoters, organizations, and nightclubs. Over the years DJ Jeminii has played at many events, including: NYC Pride, an after party for a Jay-Z concert at Yankee Stadium, Video Release events, college events, and more. DJ Jeminii has traveled the country doing what he loves, DJing in cities in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida. Some of DJ Jeminii’s influences include Jazzy Jeff, Tiesto, Funk Master Flex, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, and DJ Chuckie.

HALLISON MONTEIRO SODRÉ

Hallison was born and raised in a small town in the northern part of Brazil, and relocated to upstate New York as a teenager. While a new language and culture presented challenges in his new home, he quickly found his love for music, dance, and theater was a universal language. Hallison dove into music theory and would experiment with producing, arranging, and writing on his iPhone at home as a therapeutic way to help cope with his trauma and other personal difficulties around the age of 17. Hallison enjoys making music about love, good/bad relationships and past experiences that has helped him get through difficult chapters. He is eager to continue learning and growing. Art/ Music gives Hallison the endurance to face challenges, his goal is to inspire others who relate.

LALA MYAIRA

LaLa Myaira is the founder and host of Dreyas closet talk show , where she redefines transformation. This will be LaLa‘s second time performing for black and Latino gay pride. she is anticipated to give a show stopping performance. A fashionista based out of Albany, New York known mainly for her Nicki Minaj impersonations for over a decade. Lala made her debut to drag performance in 2012 at your local bars Waterworks and rocks. Her stage presence is uniquely different with her attention to detail when it comes to fashion and queen like presentation. She is the loving mother of the Haus of Porcelain. You can find her talk show on both YouTube and Facebook (Dreyas closet). Closing out she is honored to perform for the BI POC community this Pride season, as there are not many individuals of color that perform in the upstate region. Thank you to all of those including at IOOV -Lala Myaira

In addition to providing an enjoyable and safe space for our attendees during our Pride event, our primary objective is to link our community to LGBT inclusive, sensitive, and affirming resources through our Health & Wellness Expo. In order to reach as many individuals as possible, we request your support as a Health & Wellness Expo vendor this year.

We rely on the support of organizations, individuals, and businesses for the success of this event, and your participation in the Health & Wellness Expo will allow your organization to reach participants who may not have otherwise been able to access your necessary resources or services.

VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM

Please download the digital fillable PDF below and email the completed form to info@inourownvoices.org