“With Dignity and Pride: Photography by Vincent Cianni" Exhibit on the Struggle for Equal Rights in the U.S. Military Now on View in the NYS Capitol 

New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Commissioner Jeanette Moy today announced that OGS will livestream a panel discussion at 6 p.m. on June 16 in support of the current New York State Capitol Pride Month exhibition, “With Dignity and Pride: Photography by Vincent Cianni.” 

The free exhibit on the Capitol’s second floor places a spotlight on the history of LGBTQIA+ servicemembers’ struggle for equal rights in the U.S. military. It also demonstrates how New York State continues to support the ongoing fight for equality. 

The panel discussion will be livestreamed at empirestateplaza.ny.gov/pride, and the public is invited to submit questions to the panelists at NYSPride22@ogs.ny.gov.

The panelists are: 

• Vincent Cianni, a documentary photographer and educator whose 2013 photographic essay and subsequent publication, “Gays in the Military,” is featured in the exhibition. 

• Kristen L. Rouse, the Deputy Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services who served as both a noncommissioned officer and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for more than 25 years. 

• Monica Helms, an author, activist, U.S. Navy veteran, and designer of the first transgender flag.

Learn more about New York State’s Pride Month Observance here.