Erie Pride Picnic a fun time for all

from NW PA Pride Alliance

On Saturday, June 16, about 215 people got together for food, folks and fun at the 21st Annual Erie Pride Picnic Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle State Park. New this year was ox roast to go with the traditional hot dogs.

We also collected 57 pounds of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW PA, so thanks for helping those who are less fortunate!

Info tables at the event included Adagio Health, Community Health Net, Crime Victim Center of Erie County, Erie Sisters, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE), LBT Women, Marriage Equality for PA (who celebrated their first anniversary). Mental Health Association of NW PA and Persad Center.

NW PA Pride Alliance would like to thank our 2013 sponsors: Cleis Press, Drenched Fur, Erie Gay News, Karpel Group, Persad Center, Adagio Health, Applause Books, Avalon Hotel & Conference Center, Breaking Glass Pictures, Erie County Department of Health, GEAE, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NWPA Chapter, Camp Davis, Khepra Ka-Re Amente Anu, Bethany J. Robson LCSW CPCC, Cobb's Second Time Around Thrift Store, Crime Victim Center of Erie County, Douglas Kolcun, Erie Sisters, Glass Growers, The Latonia Ballroom & Event Center, Christopher Strayer, Esq, Coca-Cola/Erie, Country Fair, Lake Erie Counseling Associates, National Organization for Women, NWPA Chapter (NWPANOW), Silk Screen Unlimited, Tom Goss Music, Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Erie, Zone Dance Club, Allegheny College Bookstore, Erie SeaWolves, JR's Last Laugh, LBT Women, and Wegman's- Peach St. Music was provided by DJ Lunchbox and special thanks to Gary Snyder and JR Snyder for kitchen management, Alex S and Melanie for help with transportation, Preston for getting ice, Season for volunteer coordinating, Chris for table coordination, Erin for raffle coordination, Audrey for registration table and Johauna for shirt sales.

We would like to thank all of the many volunteers who made the day so enjoyable for everyone!

About the Author

Michael Mahler

Michael Kenton Mahler (He/Him) has been the editor of Erie Gay News since it was founded in December 1992. He is also a founding member of NWPA Pride Alliance. He serves on the Governor's Commission for LGBTQ Affairs and is active with Aging with Pride and the Erie County HIV Task Force. He became the first LGBTQ person to be fully out in May 1992 when appearing on local TV coverage. Michael currently works as a software developer for Erie Custom Computer Applications.