Erie Pride Parade & Rally a Great Time!

by Michael Mahler

On Saturday, August 27, about 230 people participated in the Erie Pride Parade & Rally. This year’s Pride events were organized by the Pride Planning committee, which is an informal coalition of groups and individuals.

Parade

About 100 people marched in the parade from the Zone Dance Club to Perry Square. John Daly King was the Grand Marshal for the parade, in a convertible driven by Caitlyn. Also in the parade were beloved local gay icons Jesse and Ricardo, who rode their tandem bike.

Parade units included

• Lake Erie Belly Dance
• Doctor Who contingent
• PFLAG Erie/Crawford County
• Erie Gay News
• Lake Erie Derby Dames
• LBT Women
• Latonia Theatre
• PFLAG Butler
• Erie Sisters
• Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie
• Community United Church
• OUT (Pittsburgh newspaper)

There were also many people marching as individuals, as well as a float carrying current and former Miss Eries.

Rally

The rally in Perry Square begins at 2 PM and will include speakers and performers. Please check in at the registration table when you arrive in Perry Square. The rally will include a variety of vendors and information booths.

Speakers and performers included:

• Greg Rabb, Openly gay Jamestown City Council President and Councilman at Large
• Misty Kall, Miss Erie 2011
• Rich McCarty of Equality PA, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality and Community United Church
• Chris Wolfe, Erie Idol finalist 2011
• Tammie Johnson, 2 term President of ACLU-NWPA
• Brian T, singer, also with Pittsburgh Out TV
• Jason Landau Goodman, founding Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition. The first and only youth-led statewide LGBTQ organization in the nation
• Michelle Michaels, Former Miss Erie and Coordinator for FACE Show at Zone
• Fiona Hensley, Chair of the Student Network Across Pennsylvania, SNAP, Regional Chair of the Erie-West region for SNAP and President of Queers and Allies at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
• Diva D’Vyne

Games

The Dunk a Drag Queen game was very popular! We look forward to making this an annual tradition

Donors

Many businesses and organizations gave generously to help support Pride this year. These included

• AdultMart
• Allegheny College Bookstore
• BeautiControl
• Blue Heron Inn
• Body Language
• Chicory Hill Herbs
• Coca-Cola/Erie
• Country Fair
• Craze Night Club
• Crime Victim Center of Erie County
• Douglas Kolcun
• Drenched Fur
• Earthshine Company
• Eerie Horror Film Festival
• emma's revolution
• Erie Book Store
• Erie County Democratic Party
• Erie County Department of Health
• Erie Playhouse
• Erie Seawolves
• Erie Sisters
• Erie Spine and Wellness
• Family United Counseling
• Gaudenzia / SHOUT Outreach
• Giant Eagle - Buffalo Road
• Glass Growers
• Good Health Rejuvenation
• Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Inc.
• Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
• Hollywood Stories
• Horomanski's DJ'ing Services
• JR's Last Laugh
• Kensington Books
• La bella
• Larese Floral Design
• LBT Women
• Lion's Den Adult Super Store
• MLR Books
• Pennsylvania Coaltion to End Homelessness
• Pie in the Sky Cafe
• Presque Isle Gallery Coffeehouse
• Sam's Club
• Shakira Nakelle's Mementos, Gifts & More
• Silk Screen Unlimited
• Smith's Hot Dogs
• State Farm Insurance Agent Natalie Braddock
• Tanglez Hair and Nail Studio
• The Ringbearer
• Tops Friendly Markets - W 38th St
• Wegman's- Peach St
• Wendy's of Erie
• Zone Dance Club

Committee Members & Volunteers

Many people from the committee worked hard to make the day enjoyable for everyone! Committee members included

• Season
• Chris
• Preston
• Mark H
• Erin Moll
• Amy
• Sue McCabe
• Alex
• Jeff H
• John Daly King
• Kerry

In addition to the committee members, volunteers included:

• Kevin Schultz
• Dok
• Johauna
• Wanda
• Bob H
• Eric Rogers
• Maria S.
• Deb Spilko
• Brian

Info Tables & Vendors

Info tables included:

• Adagio Health
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NWPA Chapter
• Community United Church
• Crime Victim Center of Erie County
• Equality Pennsylvania
• Erie County Democratic Party
• Erie County Human Relations Commission
• Erie Gay News
• Erie Sisters
• Lake Erie Derby Dames
• LBT Women
• Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition
• PFLAG Erie/Crawford County
• SafeNet Center
• United Way of Erie County
• Voices for Independence

Vendors included

• BeautiControl
• Book Merchant
• Christopher's Novelty Gifts

Photos

Also view photos here.

Videos

Pride Parade footage - Posted Aug 27, 2011

The World's Smallest Gay Pride Parade - Erie Pride 2011 - Posted Aug 27, 2011