New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has revealed the design the state’s first official monument honoring the LGBTI community.
The state’s LGBT Memorial Commission selected designer Anthony Goicolea, an artist living with his husband in Brooklyn, yesterday (25 June).
Goicolea’s design consist of nine boulders with glass intersected in selected boulders. The glass acts as a prism giving off a rainbow when the light hits it. The monument is being built in the Hudson River Park.
‘This monument will serve as a communal space filled with light, color, and hope where the visitors can sit, mourn, love, and remember for years to come,’ Goicolea said.
‘I am grateful to the Governor and his administration for the opportunity to be a part of this historic moment.’
The monument’s design was inspired by historic sites such as Stonehenge and Easter Island.
Governor Cuomo said: ‘From Stonewall to marriage equality, New York has always been a beacon for justice and we will never waiver in our commitment to the LGBT community and to creating a more just and inclusive society. This new monument will stand up for those values for generations to come.’
He added on Twitter Goicolea’s design will not only represent the welcoming personality of New Yorker’s but also ‘communicate a timeless message of inclusion’.
LGBT Memorial Commission
After the attack at Pulse nightclub, Governor Cuomo established the LGBT Memorial Commission. The organization was made to remember the 49 victims and fight for equal rights.
Goicolea said: ‘I am honored to join Governor Cuomo and the LGBT Memorial Commission on this important project to remember those who have been victims of hate, violence, and intolerance, while celebrating the beauty of the LGBT community.’
The monument will be commissioned by the State of New York though no timeline for the construction has been announced.
