New Yorkers Celebrate Pride On the High Line! -With Alan van Capelle

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Alan van Capelle! He is the executive director of Friends of the High Line, the former deputy comptroller for the City of New York, and the chief architect of New York’s historic marriage equality bill.

Kelly asks Alan where he's from. Alan talks about growing up on Long Island and realizing that he was gay. He talks about pretending to be Miss America while hearing his parents argue about him playing Soccer! Alan then talks a bit about his twin sister, and is surprised to learn that Kelly is a twin as well!

Alan talks about his journey through college: how he wanted to be an opera singer, and then worked in medical unions, and later decided to go into community organizing and politics. He then tells the story about how he went from speaking at the first openly gay state representatives' inauguration to being the executive director of the Pride Agenda!

Kelly and Alan talk about political activism, and Kelly describes the time he took a bus trip up to Washington, D.C. in 1993 to be a part of the march on Washington. He tells us about how their trip was almost canceled because of threats from the KKK. He describes the tension as they took the trip, and talks about how transformative of an experience it was.

Alan then talks about the importance of joy in hard times. As Executive Director of the High Line, It's important to him that in this fight against fascism, we center joy, and he hopes that people can find that on the High Line this pride.

Kelly asks Alan about the events that are going on this summer. Alan talks about Musical Theater Piano Karaoke on Mondays, and how everyone has been super excited for that. He talks about the plant sale that they held, where people had the chance to buy one of a kind plants that are not available anywhere else. He talks about the Zesty world party for Queer People of Color, and the Salsa dance parties that are held in July.

Kelly then gets personal with Alan as he asks him about his family life. Alan talks about the process of how he and his partner adopted their two kids. He talks about the pressures of raising a family as a gay couple, as well as some of the challenges that he and his kids face navigating the world as a queer family.

Finally, Kelly asks Alan about the fight for marriage equality. Alan talks about the process that he and his colleagues went through in order to get it passed. How they had to pass smaller legislation surrounding it in order to set the precedent for marriage equality. He talks about how he became friends with his political enemies and how that was crucial in nullifying them and getting them on his side. He and Kelly talk about the importance of continuing to talk to people you may disagree with.

Then Kelly asks Alan what his favorite neighborhoods are, where he likes to go to eat, and where his favorite place to go for views of the city is. Alan talks about where to go to see the best eye candy, makes a controversial restaurant take, and talks about his favorite section of the High Line.

But above all else; Alan van Capelle is a New Yorker.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Follow the High Line and for more information about their events:

https://www.thehighline.org

@Highlinenyc

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers: Alan Van Capel on Ellen
• (00:01:34) - Queens doctor and proud New Yorker
• (00:03:54) - Democrat and twin sister on politics
• (00:07:45) - Straight Women Talk About Coming Out
• (00:07:56) - In the Elevator With Gay People
• (00:11:23) - Exploring the Stonewall Riot
• (00:16:05) - On the Pulse Shooting
• (00:19:07) - The High Line's Pride Month 2
• (00:23:10) - Adopting Gay Parents
• (00:27:00) - Same-Sex Parents in NYC
• (00:30:50) - Horticulturalists on the High Line
• (00:33:01) - NY Gov. Cuomo on Marriage Equality
• (00:39:31) - On the Fight for Gay Rights
• (00:44:52) - What Gay Parents Want You To Know
• (00:49:17) - Pride Month on the High Line
• (00:50:37) - Favorite New York Neighborhoods
• (00:53:47) - NYC Knicks Fever
• (00:55:19) - Alan Van Capel on Being a New Yorker
• (00:57:06) - The New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:58:18) - Train No. 6, Brooklyn-