Attending Thursday’s Pride flag raising on Public Square, from left: Jesse Macko, Tony Brooks, Samuel O’Connell, Holly K. Pilcavage, Jessica Ives, David Pearson, Mayor George Brown.
Submitted Photo
NEPA Rainbow Alliance holds ceremony
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Volunteers raise the Pride flag Thursday morning on Public Square to commemorate Pride Month.
Submitted Photo
WILKES-BARRE — Holly Pilcavage, NEPA Rainbow Alliance board member and co-chair of the organizations special events committee, Thursday said we are not truly equal until every person is afforded the same rights and opportunities.
“It’s important to remember that when one of us experiences discrimination, it affects all of us,” Pilcavage said.
Pilcavage spoke at Thursday ceremony of raising the Pride Progress flag on Public Square to commemorate the celebration of Pride Month.
“On behalf of the Rainbow Alliance, we thank you for being here today,” Pilcavage said. “The Rainbow Alliance provides education, support, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals and families, while working to advance fairness and equality.”
Pilcavage said Pride Month is a time which celebrates the progress made and it’s is a time to recognize courage, which she said comes in a lot of forms.
“We envision a future where all people in NEPA can live openly and free from fear — where individuals, organizations and businesses work collaboratively to build an equal, inclusive community, and where we celebrate and nurture our diversity,” Pilcavage said. “To work toward this future we educate and empower our volunteers to create strategic, peer-driven, sustainable programming overseen by strengthened volunteer leadership.”
Pilcavage, president/CEO at Coal Creative, explained that the Pride flag colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender.
“We raise it today at the beginning of Pride Month,” she said.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown attended the flag raising ceremony.
“I was happy to join with the Greater Wilkes-Barre LGBTQ+ community to kick off Pride Month and recognize the community’s diverse population,” Brown said.
Pilcavage also announced several upcoming Pride Month events:
• Cheer, Queers Happy Hour Events at River Grille June 3 at 7 p.m.
• Scranton Pride flag raising Saturday June 4 at 10 a.m.
• NEPA pride royale Pageant Saturday June 25 at 7 p.m. at Hilton in Downtown Scranton.
• PrideFest parade and celebration Sunday June 26 at noon in Downtown Wilkes-Barre on Public Square.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.