NW PA Pride Alliance Thanks 2016 Donors & Supporters

from NW PA Pride Alliance

This year was a year of firsts for NW PA Pride Alliance. This was our first full year of being a 501c3. Many things remained the same, but together with the support of our donors and the Erie community, we added even more visibility to the LGBTQIA community. In addition to our Pride Picnic on June 4 and our PrideFest and March on August 27, we added a Painting with Pride night in the spring and early winter, partnered with the Erie Seawolves for our 3rd annual Pride Night, partnered with the Zone Dance Club for a Pride Kickoff party the night before Pridefest, and also partnered with Waldameer Park and Water World for the first Pride Day at the Park the day after PrideFest.

As we worked in conjunction with local businesses and organizations to host many events throughout the Erie region, we kept our mission of LBGTQIA visibility our number one goal. Not only did we have a float in the Millcreek 4th of July Parade but we also partnered with Identity-Edinboro University gay-straight alliance-to march in that school's homecoming parade. Finally, Pridefest was also covered by Mic Media from New York City. This coverage led to a news piece that has been viewed almost half a million times.

Although 2016 was a year of many successes in the Erie LGBTQIA community, we also had our fair share of tough times. The June attack on Pulse night club in Orlando strongly affected us going into all the events in which we participated. Together with Greater Erie Alliance for Equality and Community United Church, we held a candle light vigil the evening after the Pulse Night club shooting. The events in Orlando have unified the Erie LGBT Community and motivated us to keep working to make it known that the Erie LGBT Community is strong and we will be around for years to come.

Moving forward, we are excited to continue to expand our work in Erie and the surrounding areas in 2017. We have already planned some changes for our season next year and are looking forward to announcing them shortly. We know that we are an organization that couldn't do anything without the support of our donors and our community. We are always looking for new ways to be visible and to partner with organizations to give the LGBTQIA community a voice in NWPA. Our work is far from done, and we look forward to making 2017 our best year yet.