New York Knicks player Reggie Bullock paid a visit to the young people of Hetrick-Martin Institute on Thursday, January 10, 2020. Reggie, a staunch advocate and leading voice among professional athletes for LGBTQ+ rights, spoke with HMI youth about his activism in the community.
One of Reggie’s sisters, Mia Henderson, who was transgender, was murdered in Baltimore in 2014. His signature rainbow-colored hair is in honor of Mia and his other sister, Keiosha Moore, who was also murdered this past October. Reggie’s support has included participating in NYC’s Pride March in 2017, when he played for the Detroit Pistons, riding atop the NBA’s rainbow-colored float.
In an open conversation setting, our youth shared their own stories with Reggie and asked questions about how to be leaders in their own communities. Following the conversation, Reggie, in coordination with the Knicks, collaborated with our young people to design the Pride Night T-shirt, which will spell out “New York Forever”.
The t-shirt will be featured during the NY Knicks annual Pride Night game next Thursday, January 16. HMI youth and staff will be attending the game next week, and they will get to wear the t-shirts they helped design.
HMI is very grateful to Reggie and the NY Knicks for their support of LGBTQ+ youth. It is role models like Reggie who help our underserved young people rise above any challenges they may undergo and aspire to thrive.
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