On September 24, Queens Community House (QCH) partnered with Assembly Member Catalina Cruz to host our first “Autumn OutFest,” a day-long block party in Jackson Heights. QCH was led by its two LGBTQ+ programs, Generation Q and the Queens Center for Gay Seniors. Throughout the day, Queens residents of all ages gathered for live music, a Drag Story Hour, a fun bounce house, a comedy show, food, games, and resource tables for individuals and families.

The event was a partnership with Chhaya, a Jackson Heights-based organization addressing housing and economic needs of low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers, who held its annual Chatpati Mela celebration on the other end of the block. “We’re grateful to Chhaya for helping us create a very Jackson Heights event, with neighbors of diverse backgrounds intermingling and truly appreciating each other,” said QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases.

Assembly Member Cruz spoke in support of the LGBTQ+ community, at the same time referencing a small group of protesters heckling during the event. “We wanted to make people feel supported and loved and won’t let the homophobic hate protesters who showed up change that,” said Assembly Member Cruz.

In addition to Cruz, elected officials in attendance included State Senator Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, and former Councilmember Danny Dromm. All joined in voicing their support for the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of the event.

“Being the first Black man to serve as the Borough President of Queens, I understand the importance of ensuring communities that have been historically underrepresented, as well as voices that have been locked out of the room, are at the table, and that includes the LGTBQ community,” said Richards. “I want to congratulate Queens Community House for doing a phenomenal job at opening their doors for everyone in need of assistance.”

“Time and time again, the entire community of Queens consistently proves that love is louder than hate, and Autumn OutFest was a demonstration of that,” said Julia Peitzer, Generation Q Assistant Director. “The block party succeeded in creating a space where people can be themselves and are accepted.”

This month, the NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) held a kick-off event of "The People's Money", NYC's first-ever citywide participatory budgeting (PB) process. The process will allow all New Yorkers age 11 and up to have a voice in deciding how to spend $5 million of mayoral expense funding.

QCH was selected as the Queens borough anchor for the campaign. As anchor, we will be hosting Idea Generation Sessions across the borough where neighbors can brainstorm ideas for creative projects that meet the needs of Queens' communities. Projects will then be developed into ballot proposals, which will be voted on by residents in each borough in early 2023.

On September 14, QCH Executive Director Ben Thomases was invited to speak at the process's kick-off event in the Bronx. "This participatory democracy helps further QCH's mission of building healthy and inclusive communities across Queens," said Thomases. "When ordinary community members have a direct say in how their tax money is spent, everyone benefits."