23rd Annual Erie Pride Picnic recap


from NW PA Pride Alliance


NW PA Pride Alliance held the 23rd Annual Erie Pride Picnic on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle State Park. About 230 people total attended and enjoyed a day in the sun with great food and friends old and new.


There was a tragic auto accident at about 8 AM that morning near Beach 5. The 17 year old passenger was killed and the 21 year old driver was seriously injured. Access to the park was restricted/unavailable for several hours and the start of the picnic had to be delayed until 3 PM.


Staff and volunteers worked very hard to make this a great event for all in probably the most challenging set of circumstances that a local Pride event has faced yet. People who made the Pride Picnic happen include Season Crannell, Chris Dye, Daniel Thomas, Alex Sphon, Kelly Kidd, Melanie Shubitowski, Julie, Collis Allen, Kim and Andrea, Jodi, Gary Snyder, Jeremy Snyder, Jeff Hill, Audrey, Johauna, the group of women who helped free the U-Haul when it got stuck in sand, Matthew Robison, and Deb Spilko.


Info tables present included Americans United for Separation of Church and State; NW PA; Crime Victim Center of Erie County; Equality PA; Erie Atheists and Agnostics; Erie County Department of Health; Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE), who are conducting an LGBT community needs assessment survey; Jamestown Pride Society; Lake Erie Counseling Associates; LBT Women of Erie; Mental Health Association of NW PA; Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Persad Center; PNC Bank; TransFamily of Erie Support Group; and Whispering Lake Grove.

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.

Photos

Also view photos here.