PrideFest

PLEASE READ AND REPOST THIS MESSAGE!

In LESS THAN 30 DAYS, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community will join together with allies, family and friends for PrideFest 2008. Extensive planning has gone into this year’s premier event and we want to take a moment and bring you up to speed on some of the event’s logistics.

Many of you filled out the four surveys that told the festival committee what you want at PrideFest… Thank You! We have taken into account all your feedback and feel our event has something for everyone.

How much? - The event is FREE and open to anyone who believes in full equality.
Tax-deductible, charitable donations will be gratefully accepted both at the event and online at this link.

Who’s On Stage? - The entertainment committee has put together an excellent line up including live performances by Rio Diamond, Estella Sweet, Maria Dubiel, and Marie Gray.
Additional Entertainment will be provided by DJ Debbie Gilbert (from the Twist), DJ Steven Wallace (from 12 Penny Saloon), and more!

Will there be food? - We have contracted with Kirby Park’s Snack Bar and the City of Wilkes-Barre to provide food for sale (including ice cream). You’re also welcome to bring a picnic lunch. We’ve reserved all the picnic tables and pavilions in the park. Also, the nearby Gateway Shopping Center hosts Grotto Pizza and a Subway.

How about vendors? - We are still accepting vendor applications at pridefest@gaynepa. com.
Current vendors include (partial list):
* Caring Communities for AIDS
* Pride of NEPA
* Panzee Press
* Wyoming Valley AIDS Council
* Wilkes-Barre LGBT for Obama
* Sugarloaf Herb Farm
* NEPA Obama Pride
* Victim’s Resource Center

What about security? - The Wilkes-Barre Guardian Angels organization will be providing volunteer unarmed security and the park will be routinely patrolled by city police officers throughout the event’s duration.

What if it rains? - We are working with vendors now to ensure that most if not all of the festival is under tents. We’re not going to let a little rain spoil our fun, and hope that weather will not be a concern to you in attending!

What can I do? - First, check out the new Myspace Page for the event.
Use the “Let us Know” event page to tell us that you’ll be attending (or not!).

Volunteer! – If you’re interested in volunteering to help, please e-mail pridefest@gaynepa.com that you’d like to be added to the volunteers list. Please forward this info to your friends and let them know… The Countdown is ON!

Warm regards,

John Dawe
Executive Director
NEPA Rainbow Alliance

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

Volunteers
We’re looking for volunteers for NEPA PrideFest — If you’re interested visit this link.

Sponsors & Vendors
We’re looking for sponsors and vendors, too — if you’re interested visit this link.