Citizens’ Voice Highlights PrideFest
Group revives PrideFest as larger summer event
PrideFest is making a comeback in NEPA after several years as a low-key event.
“It’s the time for change,” volunteer Marie Gray said. “I’m really proud to be part of what it’s all about.”
Organizers are looking for volunteers and vendors to make this year’s celebration, which will be Aug. 10 in Kirby Park, a big success that brings the community together. PrideFest is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally communities, and it is held annually in cities across the world.
In 2005, The Rainbow Alliance and GayNEPA.com worked with Pride of NEPA to have a festival and picnic for PrideFest. While the picnic has continued annually, Rainbow Alliance is bringing back the festival, Executive Director John Dawe said. Based on surveys done through www.gaynepa.com, he said he believed it is possible 200 people might show up this year, he said.
“This is something that we are seeing the community is asking for, something the community needs,” he said.
Depending on the community response, the festival could become an annual event.
Volunteer program assistant Janice Battinelli said she has been going to Pride festivals for more than 20 years, but this will be her first opportunity to help put one together. It’s an important event to get people together and promote education and a strong community, she said.
The Wyoming Valley, and Pennsylvania as a whole, is a tough place to live, Battinelli said, and during the two years she has lived here she has been discriminated against because of her sexual orientation.
“PrideFest is going to be one tiny step in getting any kind of equality,” she said.
Gray, who works with Rainbow Alliance as an advisor, said she’s seen a lot of growth and an increase in community pride during the past few years and thinks right now is a wonderful time to get people together.
“Cohesively, we’re here to stay and there’s a lot of good things,” she said. ”There’s a lot of community activism.”
It’s especially important, she said, to provide support services for teenagers who are developing their identities. She plans to make a presentation on helping families thrive, a topic that everyone can learn from.
Battinelli’s hope is that the celebration will bring together the LGBTA community in Northeast Pennsylvania and make this a better place to live.
“Pride is just one little event and it makes people happy for one day,” Battinelli said, “To me, I feel like people should have pride every day, not just one day out of the year.”
She is one of approximately 40 people who have already said they want to help with PrideFest, but Rainbow Alliance is looking for more volunteers, sponsors and vendors. Anyone interested in getting involved should call 371-6555 and leave a message. (or e-mail pridefest@gaynepa.com).
BY Erin Moody, Citizens’ Voice Staff Writer
emoody@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2051
Posted by Rainbow Alliance on Tue (6/3/08) in News, PrideFest
