Wilkes-Barre celebrates PrideFest
Jun. 27—WILKES-BARRE — Pride comes in many forms. Whether worn on a shirt, painted on the side of a car or flown on a flag, there are many different ways for pride to be displayed.
Every single one of those examples of pride were out in full force on Sunday, as South Main Street and Public Square were bathed in the colors of the rainbow, and in LGBTQ+ pride, for this year's NEPA PrideFest and the first ever NEPA PrideFest Parade.
Pridefest was hosted by the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, and chair of the Alliance's Board of Directors Justin Correll minced no words in speaking to the magnitude of the afternoon when he took the stage in front of a massive crowd on Public Square.
"This is a monumental moment for the city of Wilkes-Barre," Correll said. "We are here, we are present, in this moment of love today."
Correll introduced a number of speakers to the crowd, each representing different groups or different organizations but all joined in unity on the Public Square stage: Nicole Hall from Queer NEPA, Everal Eaton from the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber and several of Correll's fellow Rainbow Alliance members, including board member Kira Kinsman and Pridefest co-chairs Craig Lukatch and Holly Pilcavage.
State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski shared a few words with the crowd, as did Wilkes-Barre City Councilman Tony Brooks.
Brooks, with his husband, Matt, and their dog by his side, energized the crowd with his remarks.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of Wilkes-Barre," Brook said. He also, as several others brought up throughout the day, condemned the recent Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v. Wade court decision.
"What has just happened is appalling," Brooks said.
PrideFest maintained an exuberant energy and a happy mood all afternoon long.
Though the festivities had been underway on Public Square even earlier, the first-ever PrideFest Parade processed down South Main Street just after noon and provided a shot of life to the afternoon.
Kicked off by a police escort, the parade featured singing, dancing, appearances from Tux, Spiderman and a full-service dog grooming van, and got the PrideFest crowd jumping as each group made their way down the street.
Among the paraders was state representative candidate Eryn Harvey, who marched with members of the Rainbow Alliance.
"I think it's important to come out and show support for pride," Harvey said. "I think it's so important that we come together as a community in support."
Around the Square, vendors from LGBTQ+-owned businesses and advocacy groups gave out information, sold some merchandise and partied along with the rest of the crowd.
There was music, drag show performances, good eating and a palpable buzz in the air, as members of Wilkes-Barre's LGBTQ+ community and their allies came together as a unified group.
Both Correll and co-chairs Lukatch and Pilcavage were effusive in their praise for the team of volunteers and advocates who worked tirelessly to make sure that PrideFest went off without a hitch, and the hard work was clearly reflected in Sunday's festivities.
Correll also had two brand-new awards to hand out: one, the NEPA Pride Champion of the Year, was minted to honor a member of the local LGBTQ+ community for championing that community through hard work and advocacy; the second, the NEPA PrideFest Ally of the Year, will be given to an ally of the LGBTQ+ community who goes above and beyond in their allyship.
Anthony Melf and Patty Hughes were chosen as the winners of the Champion of the Year and Ally of the Year, respectively.
Melf, clearly humbled by the award, told the crowd that he was "still processing" the moment even as he took the stage to accept his award.
"I'm grateful to be here today, and I'm grateful all of you are here with me," he said.
Hughes had but three words to say as she accepted her award, three words that could be seen on signs, t-shirts, tents and all over town on Sunday:
"Love is love."
