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Immigration Equality Hosts Annual Fundraiser, Names 2019 Unlimited Bear Title Winners

Kyle Jackson

On Saturday, August 3rd, Immigration Equality hosted Unlimited Immigration Equality, a fundraiser held at The Deep End Bar and Restaurant in Queens, New York. The event, hosted by Three Bears and a Cub – Dan Jiménez (Mr. NY Unlimited Bear 2018), Jed Ryan (Mr. North American Bear 2012), Joe Mannetti (Mr. International Daddy Bear 2009), & George William (Mr. NY Unlimited Cub 2018), featured the announcing of this year’s Northeast Unlimited Bear Title Winners.

The winners of this year’s titles included Sir Onyx Buddha (Mr. New York Unlimited Bear 2019), Robert Benedetto (Mr. New York Unlimited Cub 2019), and Kenny McGill (Mr. New Jersey Unlimited Cub 2019), the first ever winner of his title. The winners of the Unlimited Bear and Cub titles will go on to compete in the National Unlimited Bear competition. 

The event also included various live performances from singers, burlesque dancers, and drag performers, including Nelson Gonzalez, Sucia Queen, Gary Hill, Coby Koehl, Ike Avelli, Vivian Darling, Viva Vidalia, Tym Moss, Zola Powell, Eugene Guye, and Jeza Belle, with music by DJ JEM NYC.  

In addition to live performances, there were also raffles held for exclusive artwork by Ricky Mestre and Thom Bierdz, tickets for live theatre performances, courtesy of Spin Cycle NYC, and two VIP passes to Key West Bear Weekend, donated by Bear World Magazine, as well as many other prizes.

Proceeds from the event benefited Immigration Equality, the leading LGBTQA+ immigrant rights organization in the country. Each year, Immigration Equality provides advice and legal services to thousands of LGBTQA+ immigrants seeking refuge, fair treatment, and freedom in the United States. 

For more information about Immigration Equality, please visit www.immigrationequality.org.

Kyle Jackson

Kyle Jackson (He/Him) is Senior Staff Writer at Gray Jones Media, and additionally works as a writer, editor and theatre artist/actor. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, he studied at Dillard University, received a BA in Theatre from Morgan State University, an MS in Arts Administration from Drexel University, and completed the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer in Oxford Programme in 2017. Having lived in Baltimore, the Washington, DC area, Philadelphia and New York City, he now resides and works in London, United Kingdom.

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