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Suffolk Courts Celebrate Pride Month with Annual Ceremony and Special Film Screening

By George Mcgregor
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(L-R) District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca, Supervising Judge of Suffolk’s Supreme Court Matrimonial Parts Cheryl Joseph, keynote speaker and honoree Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Esq., Acting Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley, and Support Magistrate Kevin Mulligan stand together for a photo after the ceremony.
(L-R) District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca, Supervising Judge of Suffolk’s Supreme Court Matrimonial Parts Cheryl Joseph, keynote speaker and honoree Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Esq., Acting Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley, and Support Magistrate Kevin Mulligan stand together for a photo after the ceremony. Photo credit: Julia Carpenter, NY Unified Court System.

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – The Suffolk County Courts proudly marked Pride Month with a vibrant celebration on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Courthouse. The annual event brought together judges, court staff, legal professionals, and community partners to honor the history and ongoing contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, with support from the Suffolk County Bar Association and the court’s Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission.

District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca gives welcoming remarks at the court’s Pride Ceremony.
District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca gives welcoming remarks at the court’s Pride Ceremony. Photo credit: Julia Carpenter, NY Unified Court System.

Centered on the theme “Standing Firm Together in Power & Pride,” the celebration reaffirmed the court’s commitment to equality and inclusion, and attendees joined both in person and virtually from across the state.

“Today, let us truly embrace the powerful spirit of Pride Month and remember that no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we believe, our solidarity is our greatest strength,” said Suffolk’s District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca, who presided over the ceremony.

The keynote speaker and honoree was Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, Esq., a nationally recognized attorney from Lambda Legal whose landmark civil rights litigation has advanced LGBTQ+ protections in marriage, employment, health care, housing, education, and identity documentation.

“Progress is not guaranteed. It takes hope and community to achieve these lofty goals,” he said.

Gonzalez-Pagan received a special recognition award from the Pride event’s co-chairs, Acting Supreme Court Justice Chris Ann Kelley and Support Magistrate Kevin Mulligan.

collaborative display of fabric squares created by members of the court community containing messages of hope, love, and acceptance, on display on the second floor mezzanine of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex.
The court’s “Quilt of Equality” – a collaborative display of fabric squares created by members of the court community containing messages of hope, love, and acceptance, on display on the second floor mezzanine of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex. Photo credit: Julia Carpenter, NY Unified Court System.

The court also unveiled new additions to its “Quilt of Equality,” a collaborative display of fabric squares created by members of the court community containing messages of hope, love, and acceptance. The program opened with a moving invocation by the Right Reverend Brother Mark Da-lessio, a lifelong LGBTQ+ activist and interfaith spiritual leader, followed by a lunch reception in the Central Jury Room.

The court’s Pride Exhibit on display on the second floor mezzanine of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex.
The court’s Pride Exhibit on display on the second floor mezzanine of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex. Photo credit: Julia Carpenter, NY Unified Court System.

As part of the broader Pride Month celebration, the courthouse’s second-floor mezzanine hosted an exhibit by local LGBTQ+ artists Layne Miller and Vicent Messina, alongside displays highlighting landmark LGBTQ+ rights cases, many of which involved Gonzalez-Pagan’s advocacy. Earlier this month, the court also hosted a screening of the documentary “Cured,” which chronicles the historic fight to overturn the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental illness.

Collectively, this year’s Pride events reflect the Suffolk County Courts’ enduring commitment to education, awareness, and equal justice for all.

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George Mcgregor

Mr. McGregor is our staff news reporter who focuses primarily on reviewing and editing (if necessary) all media alerts and press releases for Long Island Guide. Media advisories, alerts and press releases can be sent via this online form and, if approved, will be published free of charge. There is no guarantee your release will be published; inclusion is at the discretion of our editors. We receive hundreds of media advisories and news alerts per day and choose a select few for publication. Please see our editorial guidelines and terms of service.

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