Councilmember Arrives Late, Dressed Wrong, and Gives an Insensitive Speech at Pride Center Celebration
By Rick LaRivière
It was supposed to be a night to honor Carol Bullock, the tireless leader of the Staten Island Pride Center. Bullock has spent decades fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, the last seven as the executive director.
More than 200 attendees, including city officials and activists, packed LiGreci’s Staaten on March 7 for the “Flannel Farewell,” a tribute to Bullock’s legacy.
Everyone was there to celebrate her—and everyone but Kamillah Hanks understood that.
Hanks Shows Up Late, Dressed in Black, and Confused About the Event
The event had a simple theme: flannel shirts, casual vibes, and community spirit.
Yet, when NYC Councilmember Kamillah Hanks finally arrived—late, of course—she stood out for all the wrong reasons. Dressed entirely in black, she immediately raised eyebrows.
When asked why she didn’t wear flannel like everyone else, Hanks reportedly said, “Black folk don’t wear flannel.”
The comment did not sit well with many in attendance.
“We were all celebrating Carol, and Kamillah made it about herself,” said one event-goer. “That comment wasn’t just tone-deaf—it was bizarre.”
A Pride Center board member put it bluntly: “She walked in looking like she was going to a funeral, not a party.”
Kamillah Hanks LGBTQ+ Flop: Drunk on Power—or Just Plain Drunk?
Hanks wasn’t just late—she looked out of sorts. Multiple attendees claimed that she and her chief political advisor, Michael Arvanites, “looked like they had already been drinking before they arrived.”
“I don’t know what was going on, but they looked sloppy,” said another guest. “It was like they just came from happy hour.”
Instead of bringing warm words for Bullock, Hanks grabbed the microphone and made the moment about herself. According to attendees, the speech was awkward, uncomfortable, and entirely off-topic.
“She talked about her millionaire husband, Kevin Barry Love, and how his daughter came out to her,” said one guest. “But this wasn’t a ‘coming out’ event—it was about Carol. Nobody needed to hear Kamillah’s weird personal stories.”
The remark drew comparisons to First Lady Jill Biden’s infamous ‘breakfast tacos’ gaffe, where she awkwardly tried to pander to Latino voters.
“This was Carol’s night, and Kamillah acted like she didn’t even know why she was there,” a Democratic insider said.
Kamillah Hanks LGBTQ+ Flop: Like She Had Somewhere Better to Be
If her lateness, odd remarks, and bizarre outfit weren’t bad enough, Hanks didn’t even stick around.
“She barely mingled, barely smiled,” said a Pride Center volunteer. “She gave her awkward speech and was out the door.”
The quick exit didn’t go unnoticed.
“It felt like she was ‘mailing it in’ with the LGBTQ+ community,” said a local Democratic operative. “She used to have support here, but now she’s just checking a box.”
For years, Hanks benefited from LGBTQ+ endorsements. But insiders say that support is dwindling fast as she faces a serious primary challenge from Jozette Carter-Williams and Abou Diakhate.
Kamillah Hanks LGBTQ+ Flop: Hank’s Many Scandals Pile Up
This isn’t the first time Hanks has faced criticism for being out of touch.
- She vetoed the County Committee’s pick for NYC Board of Elections Commissioner, Debi Rose, in favor of her own crony, Michele Sileo.
- She lost all law enforcement union endorsements after backing the controversial How Many Stops Act, which cops say makes their jobs harder.
- She funneled taxpayer money to True2Life, a nonprofit that supported parole for convicted cop-killer Shatiek Johnson, who murdered NYPD Officer Gerard Carter—Jozette Carter-Williams’ late husband.
- She’s seen as beholden to lobbyists and real estate developers, with much of her campaign cash coming from outside the district.
- Hanks’s Chief of Staff, Marci Bishop, is involved in a scandal about alleged multiple social security numbers contained in public records, leading many to question Hanks’s management and vetting processes.
Her lack of connection to Staten Island’s core voters is now translating into a primary disaster.
Ranked-Choice Voting Will Seal Her Fate
Hanks is running for re-election in June, but with ranked-choice voting, her path to victory is nearly impossible.
- Carter-Williams and Diakhate have formed a strategic alliance to rank each other first and second.
- Hanks is unlikely to receive more than 40% in the first round, which isn’t enough to win.
- When votes are redistributed, Hanks will almost certainly be eliminated.
“She’s out,” a Democratic strategist said bluntly. “And she knows it.”
Kamillah Hanks LGBTQ+ Flop: A Campaign in Freefall
If Kamillah Hanks thought the LGBTQ+ community was still in her corner, her Flannel Farewell disaster proved otherwise.
“She’s just going through the motions,” said a Staten Island political insider. “And it’s not working.”
As she left the event, one attendee summed it up perfectly: “It’s going to be a cold day in hell before Kamillah Hanks gets another LGBTQ+ endorsement.”
NOTES: Sources say that beloved former NYC Council Member and Deputy Speaker Debi Rose has donated $100 to Jozette Carter-Williams’s campaign and attended a recent campaign event. Rose has not formally endorsed any candidate for her old seat in the June 24 Democratic Primary.
About The Author
