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Henry Shane

@henry_shane

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📍NYC
✡︎ 🏳️‍🌈 - Cyclist

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October 7th, 2023: Three days ago marked three years since the darkest and single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. My heart is with all the families who lost loved ones and with the people of Israel. I wish them strength as they continue to navigate this unimaginable pain.

In a world where antisemitism continues to rise, today and every day, we, the Jewish people, choose to love, spread joy, and celebrate life.

In August 2025, I embarked on my second journey to Israel, returning with 140+ Jewish LGBTQ friends as part of a volunteer program organized by Hebro & Taglit-Birthright Israel. We visited the Nova Music Festival site, cleaned debris from homes hit by missile fire, helped rebuild kibbutzim attacked on 10/7, made schnitzel sandwiches for Israeli soldiers, and found ways to support the people of Israel wherever we could.

This trip also brought me together with many new friends who will be in my life forever. We were all Jewish, LGBTQ, and proud lovers of Israel. We didn’t all share the same views on Israeli politics, but we were able to come together, share in our Jewishness, support one another, and experience Israel together during an incredibly difficult time.

Three years later, there are no hostages left in Gaza, thank God ברוך השם; but the pain of October 7th remains. So do the grief, the fear, the anger, and the memories of those who were taken hostage, those who never made it home, and the families whose lives were forever changed.

But so does our love. So does our joy. So does our ability to come together and celebrate life.

We Will Dance Again. אנחנו עוד נרקוד שוב
🇮🇱💛
Am Yisrael Chai. עם ישראל חי

@myhebro @birthrightisrael @tribe_of_nova
Read my full message in the second post. I also want to thank you, @alangilmer, for bringing me on this trip of a lifetime. If it wasn’t for you, I would not have been able to experience everything and meet all the phenomenal friends we made. Love you lots, Alan! Unable to tag all the amazing friends in these photos but you know who you are. taken in Israel by @henry_shane

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6 days ago

~What would have been my second Cycle For The Cause Ride~

This weekend should have been the Cycle For The Cause, a 230+ mile AIDS ride supporting The NYC LGBT Center and the lifesaving services they provide our community.

Unfortunately, for the safety of us cyclists, Center staff, and the volunteer crew, The Center had to make a tough decision, on short notice, to cancel the ride because of bad weather.

We woke up at 5AM on Friday last week to this difficult news. Personally, I have been feeling quite disappointed since I read that email. It’s hard to put into words how it feels to have something we’ve spent the past year training for suddenly canceled for reasons completely out of anyone’s control.

But what’s not lost on me are the silver linings.

First and foremost, the health and safety of everyone involved has to be the top priority, and The Center took that responsibility seriously.

Secondly, thank you to all The Center’s staff who have worked tirelessly over the past year to put this ride together. Words cannot fully express my gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to bring Cycle For The Cause together.

Furthermore, thank you to every single person (family members, friends, and teammates on Team Funky Monkey), who contributed to my fundraiser or another cyclist’s fundraiser. You all helped me reach my $2K goal! Team Funky Monkey has raised over $81K, and collectively, the Cycle For The Cause community has raised over $1.5 million for The Center, thank you! But we’re not done yet, if you haven’t contributed already/if you have the means, please consider giving - no amount is too small.

We may not be riding this year but the mission remains the same - end AIDS, and support the incredible, lifesaving services that The Center provides to our community.

The LGBTQ community is resilient, and when we come together, there is so much we can accomplish. Let’s keep the momentum going!

@cycleforthecause @lgbtcenternyc #EndAIDS #CycleForTheCause #C4C

*Not all of our amazing Team Funky Monkey teammates are pictured here, but you know who you are* 🙉🍌🍑🩷 by @henry_shane

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18 days ago

Twenty-five years have passed since September 11, 2001. Never forget the 2,977 people who were killed that day.

Last Friday, I was honored to attend the 25th Anniversary Ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial.

I was born nine months after 9/11, but the tragedy is deeply personal to me and my family. Two of my aunts were working at the Pentagon that day and thankfully survived.

As more generations grow up without firsthand memories of 9/11, we have a responsibility to ensure its history—and the courage, service, sacrifice, and solidarity that followed—is never forgotten.

“Never Forget” is not a slogan. It is a commitment to remember, to honor, and to respect.

Full statement in the second post.

#NeverForget taken in National September 11 Memorial & Museum by @henry_shane

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a month ago

Four years, countless adventures, and always with my favorite person ❤︎⁠ Love you Charles ❤︎⁠ by @henry_shane

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2 months ago

❤️‍🔥🇦🇷 taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina by @henry_shane

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6 months ago

~Closing out the Year, My first Cycle For The Cause Ride~

Back in September, I completed the 3-day, 275-mile Boston-to-NYC Cycle For The Cause AIDS ride—my first time participating in the Northeast AIDS ride supporting The Center, NYC’s LGBT Community Center. A huge thank-you to family members, friends, and my teammates on Team Funky Monkey who supported my personal fundraiser, helping me raise $2,000! Altogether, the Cycle For The Cause community raised more than $2.2 million to support the Center’s HIV and AIDS services in NYC.

A couple of months ago I shared how hard it was to find the words to describe everything I felt after completing the 7-day, 560-mile SF-to-LA AIDS LifeCycle ride in June. Part of that feeling came from not wanting to let go of such an unforgettable experience. But in September when I crossed the Cycle For The Cause finish line in NYC, I felt a sense of closure from the AIDS LifeCycle ride, opening the door for a renewed fight.

In 2025, combining both the CA and Northeast AIDS rides, I raised more than $11,100, cycled over 835 miles, spent more hours on my bike than I can count, and met many incredible people along the way. A heartfelt thank-you to my dear friend Alan for convincing me to sign up for Cycle For The Cause 2025 and for pushing me to complete a second AIDS ride in the same year—something I truly didn’t think I could do. Love you lots, @alangilmer, and thank you for motivating me through all 275 miles.

As we close out 2025, I’m excited to share that I will be completing my second Cycle For The Cause in September of this new year! That renewed fight I mentioned continues until we find a cure for HIV and an end to AIDS, especially as there is increasing urgency with ongoing political threats and significant cuts to federally funded programs. Stay tuned, and thank you again for following along!❤️

@cycleforthecause @lgbtcenternyc @aidslifecycle #EndAIDS #CycleForTheCause #C4C #AIDSLifeCycle #LGBTQ

*unable to tag all the amazing people in these photos but you know who you are* by @henry_shane

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9 months ago

I’m proud to share that I’ve started a new position as the Special Assistant at the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli!

Thank you to several mentors, friends, and coworkers for helping me reach this exciting new chapter in my career! Also, thank you to my amazing family for the support.

Eager to get to work for the people of the incredible State of New York! Excelsior, ever upward. 🇺🇸

@nys.comptroller
📸NYC Pride Parade • June 29, 2025 by @henry_shane

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10 months ago

~The final AIDS LifeCycle Ride~

Since June 7, the day I crossed the finish line after biking 560 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles for the last time, I’ve spent the summer reflecting on this life achievement. I’ve struggled to find the words to fully describe the emotions, feelings, and thoughts that encapsulate everything this ride represents.

2,067 riders, 664 roadie volunteers, and countless donors made this year’s AIDS LifeCycle a beautiful success. Together, we raised $17.84 million for HIV/AIDS healthcare provided by the SF AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Thank you to so many of you for helping me personally raise over $9,100!

This ride is powered by a community rooted in love, support, care, and genuine kindness. We call it “the love bubble.” The people I’ve met during my three years completing this ride (2022, 2023, 2025) will forever be held near and dear to my heart.

We ride in memory of those we’ve lost to AIDS, in honor of those who survived, and for those who are HIV positive and continuing to live beautiful lives. Thank you for standing with me in this critical cause and in this feat. I am forever grateful and honored to be part of this event’s 30+ year legacy of riding to end AIDS.

And while AIDS/LifeCycle may have ended, our fight continues. I feel hope for the future, and I know that this beautiful community can accomplish anything when we come together. Yet there is increasing urgency, as the fight to find a cure for HIV and an end to AIDS faces political threats and significant cuts to federally funded programs right now.

That’s why I’m continuing the momentum. This weekend, beginning today, Friday 9/19 through Sunday 9/21, I will be cycling 275 miles from Boston to NYC with @cycleforthecause —the NYC LGBT Center’s ride to end AIDS. I’m once again asking for your support in helping me raise $2,000 for @lgbtcenternyc. No amount is too small—every dollar counts in the fight to #EndAIDS.

Link in bio to contribute to my Cycle for the Cause fundraiser. Thank you!❤️

@aidslifecycle #AIDSLifeCycle #LGBTQ

*unable to tag all the amazing people in these photos but you know who you are* by @henry_shane

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a year ago

Happy 3 year my love, @charles_vogel🩵

Still feeling the same sparks from the night we met! So excited for everything ahead with you👬🏻 by @henry_shane

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a year ago

NYC Pride 2025🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Pride is a protest.
Pride is a resistance.
Pride is a celebration.
Pride is joy.
Pride is love is love.
Pride is 365 days a year.

The LGBTQ+ community has made incredible strides in the fight for equality—but the work is far from over. Our Trans siblings face daily attacks from those who fear what they don’t understand. All this community has ever done is live authentically and unapologetically—and that alone is seen as a threat.

To my fellow LGBs: we must show up. We must put ourselves on the line to defend our Trans siblings. The rights we’ve fought so hard for are also under attack, and politicians are actively trying to erase our history, our progress, and our very existence.

We won’t let them.

We must be visible. We must be loud. We must be unshakably proud. My friend @fernandobrigidi marched with a sign in the parade that said: Our Joy Is Resistance. Pride Month may be over—but we’re here. We’re queer. And we sure as hell aren’t going anywhere.

#Pride365 #NYCPride #LGBTQ+ #Proud taken in New York, New York by @henry_shane

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a year ago

As the final @aidslifecycle approaches, in just 48 hours, I want to thank everyone who’s supported me during training or contributed to my $8K fundraiser (still about $1,500 to go!) benefiting @sfaidsfound and @lalgbtcenter —two organizations fighting to end AIDS.

AIDS/LifeCycle began over 30 years ago, in 1994, as a grassroots ride to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS. Since then, ALC and its predecessor, the California AIDS Ride, have raised millions, becoming the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser globally. But the pandemic hit hard: two canceled rides, rising costs, and a decline in ridership have reduced vital funding for HIV prevention, care, and housing services.

This Sunday, June 1—on the first day of Pride Month—I’ll join over 2,000 people on a 560-mile, 7-day ride from SF to LA. It’s not just a physical challenge; it’s a tribute to the LGBTQ+ activists and allies who’ve fought to end AIDS since the early days of the epidemic. AIDS is no longer a death sentence, thanks in part to treatments like PrEP. But access to care remains under threat—from state-level government bans to proposed federal budget cuts. The LA LGBT Center and SFAF rely on millions in federal support, which now hangs in the balance.

Ending AIDS also means fighting stigma. Despite advances in science, people living with HIV still face discrimination and exclusion. We need to center their voices and experiences—and ensure safe, supportive spaces for education and advocacy.

Funds raised support sexual health services, HIV/STI testing and treatment, counseling, and housing for vulnerable communities. If you’re able, you can still donate throughout the duration of the ride and throughout June (link in bio).

Having participated in the 2022 and 2023 rides, I’m deeply grateful for the “love bubble” AIDS/LifeCycle has brought into my life. I’m excited to meet even more incredible riders and volunteers in the coming week. We’ve trained hard for this final 560-mile journey—now let’s create new memories while honoring those we’ve lost.

Let’s continue spreading awareness, ending stigma, and working together to eradicate this virus.

We ride. We remember. We will end AIDS. 🩷
#EndAIDS #LGBTQ by @henry_shane

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a year ago

Another chapter closes, a new one opens…onward and upward!

#ClassOf2025 #TheNewSchool 🎓 taken in New York, New York by @henry_shane

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a year ago