Memorial for Ali Forney

Volume 2, Number 10 | The Weekly Newspaper of Chelsea | December 14 - 20, 2007

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After sharing heartfelt memories of her brother, Ali Forney’s sister Chaka Rosemin (second from right) receives a standing ovation from Reverend Dominique Atchison (left), Carl Siciliano (far right), founder and executive director of the Ali Forney Center, and the rest of the audience.

Nearly 100 people gathered in the sanctuary of Judson Memorial Church last Thursday night to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Ali Forney, whose name graces the Chelsea center that has been serving homeless LGBT youth for five years. Forney left home when his family rejected him for being gay. He was killed by gunfire in 1997. “Every day of my life I still think of Ali,” said his longtime friend Carl Siciliano, founder and executive director of the Ali Forney Center. “I miss you Ali, and I love you and I hope you’re proud of what we’ve done in your name,” he added. Forney’s sister, Chaka Rosemin, gave an impassioned remembrance of her brother in their younger years. “He always took me under his wing,” she said as her children sat in the front row listening. “I loved being around my brother.” The memorial also included a performance by the Ali Forney Center dancers, an open mic for friends to share their remembrances, a performance by the Lavender Light Choir, and the song “Eye on the Sparrow” sung by Natalie Douglas.