Brooklyn Borough Hall Welcomes Its First Brooklyn LGBT Wedding Expo 1/15

Brooklyn, once only a thriving "suburb" of sister borough Manhattan, will honor its reputation of diversity, culture and unity by hosting the City's first major wedding expo for the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer (LGBTQ) community on Sunday, January 15, 2012, from 10 AM to 6PM.

January 15 also commemorates the birthday of DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., and holding the event at that time symbolizes the borough's continued commitment to equal rights.

The Expo is being presented and sponsored by the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, located on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

The borough, as the host of this event, will show its support by throwing open the doors of Brooklyn Borough Hall at 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn's oldest building, built in 1848 of marble and in the style of Greek Revival architecture.

Composed of four floors, Borough Hall, restored in 1989, includes a stately rotunda with sweeping staircases and chandeliers, lush ornate community spaces, a sophisticated Victorian Study and even a gold-domed Beaux-Arts courtroom, often seen as a setting in movies and TV dramas such as "Law and Order." Since it is "the people's building," admission to the Expo is free.

A transportation hub and home of the New York City Transit museum, the Borough Hall/Downtown Brooklyn area has been and continues to be the centerpiece of Brooklyn government, surrounded by stately courthouses, public spaces and offices.

The 2012 LGBTQ Wedding Expo, is expected to draw thousands of guests and will be attended by some 100 vendors serving wedding and special occasion needs such as hotels, banquet halls, caterers, florists, rental and travel agents, lawyers, financial advisors and planners as well as any organizations, retailers or services who wish to solicit the lucrative wedding market.

It is hoped that the event will be attended by any individuals or couples, regardless of sexual orientation, who are considering the hire of Brooklyn vendors for their "special day."

The event will also feature "honeymoon packages" and elaborate "giveaways" from regional and national sponsors as well as a "silent auction" of merchandise redeemable locally. "It is a fabulous and comprehensive showcase for both local retailers as well as many national companies who want to congratulate Brooklyn and New York State gays and lesbians on their victory for equal rights," commented Daniel Brooks, LGBTQ Wedding Expo Director. "Yay for Brooklyn in opening its doors!"

New York State legislators voted in June to extend its citizens same-sex marriage privileges and Governor Andrew Cuomo immediately signed the bill into law.

On June 29, Brooklyn's borough president, Marty Markowitz, threw a party at Borough Hall to demonstrate the borough's support for the law and also to remind New Yorkers that the building was open to the LGBTQ community for their nuptials for the first two days of marriage equality, July 24 and 25.

"Brooklyn Borough Hall is thrilled to host the 2012 LGBTQ Wedding Expo and welcome brides- and grooms-to-be planning their special day," said Markowitz.

"The Expo will come nearly six months after Borough Hall celebrated marriage equality in New York State by hosting the wedding ceremonies of dozens of lucky couples, and I am thrilled that Brooklyn-proud home of everyone from everywhere, including one of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered populations and certainly the biggest lesbian community in the country-will be the location of the first ever major expo of its kind in New York City."

More details of the first annual LGBTQ Wedding Expo will be unveiled shortly. Interested participants can receive a press kit by contacting Brooklyn Community Pride Center on its Web site, www.lgbtbrooklyn.com, or emailing the Expo Director, Daniel Brooks, at weddingexpo@lgbtbrooklyn.org. Advanced tickets will be available beginning on December 1 via the BCPC Web site.

Space is limited, so prospective vendors are encouraged to act quickly. An extensive wedding/special occasion guide book will also be available to attendees, free of charge, with paid advertising listing all retailers in the borough who would like to showcase their goods or services. The rain date is January 22. All are welcome.