Last week, Borough President Eric Adams made incendiary remarks at the opening of the Stonewall House, an LGBTQ-friendly senior residence developed in partnership between SAGE and NYCHA. BP Adams implied that members of the LGBTQ and Black communities in Fort Greene would clash, citing “disruptive” incidents that would be likely to occur in the community.  We are confident that he is wrong, and LID looks forward to an apology. 

To begin, this is a complex matter, with many sides, stakeholders and feelings.  Stonewall House is the first LGBTQ-friendly senior housing development in the city.  While BP Adams has been involved in the development of Stonewall House, there are many in Fort Greene’s Black community who feel left out of the process, as reported by Kings County Politics.

Sadly, the BP’s comments, though not outright homophobic, ignore an important fact: there are many people of color in the LGBTQ community who will benefit from this project.  Implying that the LGBTQ community does not include people of color erases the contributions, challenges and existence of the very folks who started the demonstrations that now bear the Stonewall name.  By pitting the Black and LGBTQ communities against one another, not only do we stand to lose years of progress but we also fail to acknowledge the intersectionality of Black LGBTQ-identified folks. It is disappointing to see the BP pressing an “us versus them” narrative. 

Stonewall House will provide much needed LGBTQ-sensitive housing and programming for seniors.  Importantly, a third of the units are set aside for current NYCHA residents. Instead of not being diverse, as implied by the BP, an estimated 80% of the units will be occupied by people of color.  

It is true that gentrification has gripped central Brooklyn communities like Fort Greene for years, causing friction among newcomers and existing communities of color.  It is understandable that residents, stakeholders and community advocates are concerned. As demonstrated by its efforts to attract a racially diverse population and receive support from tenant leaders, SAGE has demonstrated a strong commitment to both the LGBTQ and Black communities.  Stonewall House must strive to be an upstanding community member and resource. By doing so, we are confident that it will be successful as both a part of the LGBTQ and Fort Greene communities.

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