NEPA PRIDEFEST 2011 ENTERTAINMENT LINE-UP ANNOUNCED

We are pleased to announce the entertainment line-up for NEPA PrideFest 2011 will include performances by:

• Media 5 Entertainment bands POP ROX and M80
• DJ sets sponsored by the 12 Penny Saloon and Twist.
• An hour of music, performance art, and a special appearance by award-winning singer/songwriter and long time gay rights activist Jade Starling, sponsored by Twist
• A special entertainment block highlighting Northeastern Pennsylvania’s best drag performers, sponsored by Sweet Emanski Entertainment

“Our entertainment schedule this year pulls together the diversity of our region – from popular local acts to, to performances by drag queens highlighting an important element of the gay rights movement, to a very special performance by gay rights icon Jade Starling,” said John Dawe, executive director of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, the organization that presents the annual PrideFest event.

The family-friendly, all-ages festival also brings together vendors and exhibitors from local businesses and nonprofit organizations with products, services and offerings targeted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and its allies. (LGBTA).

According to Bill Browne, Vice-Chair, “We have grown every year for the past three, and expect this year to surpass all previous events.”  Last year’s event hit a record attendance of more than 2,000.

“We’ve tweaked a lot of our operations,” said Dawe, explaining that reductions in funding have caused the organization’s board to scrutinize every facet of the event. “As a result, festival-goers will see an extremely streamlined event.  We are extremely grateful to organizations like Tiger Abstract, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Twist, Twelve Penny Saloon, Pride of NEPA, and The Rainbow Fund of The Luzerne Foundation for helping to keep this signature event going strong.”

Any company, organization, or individual wishing to get involved by sponsoring, vending, or volunteering can contact the PrideFest office by calling 570-763-9877 or e-mailing info@gaynepa.com.

(Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania) The Rainbow Alliance, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community organization, proudly announces its 2011 Rainbow Award Recipients.  The honorees will be recognized at the 2011 Rainbow Awards Gala on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at The Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, starting at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are $75 per person, and information is available at www.RainbowAwards.org.

“The Awards Gala promises to be a fabulous event with open-bar top shelf cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and awards, and prom-style after dinner dancing with live entertainment,” said Susan Smith, chair of the Rainbow Alliance board of directors. “All proceeds benefit the Rainbow Alliance, addressing the critical needs of LGBT individuals and families in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region.  It’s a good time for a good cause!”

The 2011 Rainbow Award Honorees are:

Margaret L. “Margie” Bryant, Co-Founder of Pride of NEPA
Outstanding Community Volunteer Leader

Rev. Daniel C. Gunn, Rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre
Outstanding Supporter from a Community of Faith

Christopher A. Doherty, Mayor of the City of Scranton
Outstanding Public Official

Shawn Ray Killian (Keystone College) and Jessica A. Rothchild (The University of Scranton)
Outstanding Student Leadership

More information is available at RainbowAwards.org.

With PrideFest well grounded, the year 2011 will see the return of the annual dinner and we need your help to identify those individuals, organizations and businesses in Northeastern Pennsylvania who have made an impact on creating a welcoming, inclusive environment in NEPA, as well as being a champion for equality, both locally and beyond.

Please take a moment to make your nomination(s) in the following categories, noting that not all categories may be awarded each year:

• Outstanding Program of a Nonprofit or Community Organization
• Outstanding Public Official (Elected)
• Outstanding Community Leader or Volunteer (Individual)
• Outstanding Ally from the Faith Based Community (Clergy)
• Outstanding Student Leader (College or High School Student)
• Outstanding Youth Advocate (Individual)
• Outstanding Business

We will recognize the honorees at a special celebration event, slated for mid-April 2011.  The Rainbow Alliance Advisory Board will select awardees from nominations received.

Nominations may be completed using the attached form and are due December 15, 2010.

• Download the 2011 Rainbow Awards Form (PDF)
• Download the 2011 Rainbow Awards Form (Word 2010 DocX)
• Download the Awards 2011 Rainbow Awards Form (Word 2003 or Earlier)

As we look to the New Year, we hope you will take a moment this holiday season to reflect on the progress that we, as a community, have made during 2009.

During the last year, the NEPA Rainbow Alliance and Rainbow Fund have achieved unprecedented positive visibility for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and allied communities in our region.  From the 1,500+ attendee Pride Festival to a full spread in The Weekender to “State of Pennsylvania: Gay in NEPA” public affairs special on WVIA, our volunteers and staff have been busy.

We need your help so we can continue this important work.  We know that when the majority of people see that there is a vibrant LGBT community in their backyard, it starts dialogue that leads to understanding.

Please take a moment to make a gift to help us keep the momentum going.

We hope we can count on your support so the advancement of equality will have a strong and permanent place in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Please click here to make a gift or mail a gift to:

The NEPA Rainbow Fund
512 Northampton Street #218
Edwardsville, PA 18704

Thank you and happy holidays!

The Volunteers and Staff of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance

DinnerOUT 1/24/10, 630pm Thai Thai Wilkes-Barre.

Please send announcements/events to prideofnepaorg@yahoo.com

Key elements and concerns within the gay community are the right to be accepted for who they are; the right to be treated fairly at school and work, in church and in public; the right to quality health care; and, the right to be respected by public servants, including those in law enforcement.

According to the 2009 GayNEPA Community Assessment Survey 50.3 percent of gay couples are in a monogamous relationship; 16.5 percent have had a same-sex commitment ceremony or wedding; 77 percent would want a same-sex civil union, marriage or domestic partnership; 43 percent are parents; 57 percent were raised in the Catholic Church. However, only 16 percent are still practicing – although respondents stated that the “abandonment” rate is much lower in the Protestant church and almost non-existent in the Unitarian, Unity and Episcopal churches.

Furthermore, of the 150 randomly polled Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender respondents, 95 percent are registered active voters; most have some form of college education including a Masters Degree or Doctorate.

Joining Correspondent Suzanne Kapral-Kelly in the Sordoni Theater at WVIA will be John Dawe from Dawe Consulting and Executive Director, NEPA Rainbow Alliance; Jeff Brauer, Associate Professor & Director for the Center for Service Learning at Keystone College and Board Member, Equality Pennsylvania, and Rev. Daniel Gunn, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre.

The show will also include comments from International Aids Activist, Cleve Jones, who is also founder of the Aids Memorial Quilt. Actor Emile Hirsch in the 2009 Oscar Nominated Film, Milk, portrayed Cleve Jones.

To be part of WVIA’s live studio audience in the region’s only High Definition Theater Studio, call (570) 602-1150 or visit http://stateofpa.eventbrite.com.

Viewers may call in questions during the show at 1-800-326-9842 or go to www.wvia.org to submit their questions online.

1. Dinner OUT 10/18 (this Sunday) 6pm Amber Inn restaurant in Moosic..next to 12 Penny..rsvp to jeng1969@verizon.net by Friday please so we can make reservations.

2. Hey Gang,

OK Here it goes. I’m looking at the my schedule and surrounding holidays and it seems like Third Sundays are sort of a good idea if we want a movie day. That would be November 15th & December 20th to start with. I say let us try this out to begin with and see where it goes. I’m thinking of making this an early event. Perhaps a matinee or early afternoon so we can all go home early. Maybe we can meet for coffee before or brunch afterwards. We could choose a few movies, something fresh and new, and then vote on-line perhaps a week ahead of time. Let me know what you think. I treasure my time with you and look forward to expanding our moments together. Movies 14 on Northampton Street works best for me unless I can get a ride.

Love,

Bill Browne

If interested in Movie OUT Please rsvp to brownewilliam@optonline.net

3. Evening of stunts, escapes, and spooky magic
Come see Prideofnepa member Micheal Kattner perform at the Hazleton Art League Broad St Hazleton 7pm $13
For more info check out www.professorfountain.com

4. Rainbow Scranton Halloween Party
10/17 Rodeway Inn Birney Ave Moosic $5

5. Rocky Horror Picture Show
Music Box Playhouse
Oct 16,17,23,24,30,31 at 730pm (Buffet at 630pm)
Midnight shows on Oct 23,24,30,31 show only no buffet
Show only $15
Show and Buffet $25
call 800-698- PLAY or 570-283-2195

To Volunteer call 570-606-4410 or e-mail john@gaynepa.com.

For more information about the event visit the NEPA PrideFest Page

Please join us for a CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TO SUPPORT LGBT PERSONS AND OUR ALLIES,
WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009
COURTHOUSE SQUARE, SCRANTON
8:00 PM

Bring your friends, family, and neighbors to show support and solidarity for this critically important issue.

SPONSORED BY LOCAL CITIZENS THAT ARE ADVOCATES OF EQUAL MARRIAGE.

For more information contact Vanessa at vanessaw@gaynepa.com.