‘It’s about acceptance.’ State College Pride reaches record-breaking numbers
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- State College Pride drew nearly 1,200 marchers, about 400 more than the previous year.
- Pride included performances, a new children’s section, and voter registration.
- Centre LGBT+ coordinated the all-day Pride event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown State College was rainbow as far as the eye could see during Saturday’s 6th annual Pride celebration.
Coordinated by Centre LGBT+, a local queer resource and support center, this year’s Pride saw record-breaking numbers, with nearly 1,200 marchers in the parade procession — almost 400 more than the previous year — and thousands of celebrants throughout the day.
“State College Pride is our baby,” Cat Cook, director of Centre LGBT+, said earlier in the week. “I think that we all see that there is a need to … make sure that the event goes off and the community feels supported.”
The all-day event started at 10 a.m. with the kickoff of the 1.1 mile parade from State College Area High School to Sidney Friedman Park. At the park, festivities included performances from local musical artists Porch Party, Margot Bevington, Thomasin Grace and Eric Ian Farmer & Friends, along with drag performances by Mumu Chanel Van Pelt, Diego Man-dana and Shamus Daniels. The performances also featured a short from Tempest Productions reimagining of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”
Celebrations were opened by Pride Grand Marshal Erica Deuso, the mayor of Downingtown who is the first openly transgender mayor in Pennsylvania. Deuso led the parade into town and later delivered remarks about the importance of acceptance and visibility.
Deuso told the Centre Daily Times earlier in the week that being asked to be the parade’s grand marshal was “a great honor.”
“People seeing transgender people out and visible in the community, I think that’s valuable in itself. … It’s just valuable to see people in the community flourishing being out,” she said.
The event also featured remarks from State College Mayor Ezra Nanes, who expressed his excitement at the growth of Pride and his continuing commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
“This is an event that is very important to the fabric of the borough,” Nanes told the CDT earlier this week. “We make an effort to speak out, to stand up and affirm our support and solidarity with people in the LGBT+ community and their allies … we will continue to do that.”
Executive Director and founder of the Eastern Pennsylvania Trans Equity Project Corrine Goodwin also delivered remarks, reminding those assembled to remember the origins of the Pride movement and the queer forbearers — named and unnamed — who fought to make this celebration and others across the country during Pride Month possible.
Goodwin also encouraged listeners to pursue activism and to advocate for housing and healthcare for transgender and nonbinary community members. President Donald Trump’s second term has included restrictions on transition care that conservatives say are focused on trans youth but that are increasingly limiting adult access to healthcare, NBC News recently reported.
“For me, Pride is the mission,” Goodwin said. “Making sure that queer and trans folks, you know, are not just able to come out and celebrate today, but they can celebrate every day.”
This year’s Pride represents a marked growth from previous years, having evolved from a standard parade to an all-day family event, with a new children’s section added. Free games lined the outside of the municipal building and parents and children visited the face paint stand, balloon artist, puppet lab and more.
The event saw a turnout from all ages, from children in strollers to adults with walkers, eager to celebrate the season and embrace authenticity.
South Allen Street, West Foster Avenue and D Alley were lined with food trucks and tables from local businesses and resource centers giving away themed merchandise and providing information about local resources for marginalized communities.
“Pride to us means just acceptance in every way, shape and form,” Haley Rhone, director of prevention at the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, said. “We’re just out here today to show support for youth and young adults and anyone in the LGBTQ+ community.”
However, not everyone at Pride was a supporter. The back corner of Sidney Friedman Park was occupied by two men protesting the event, heckling and displaying a sign that branded those assembled as sinners. The crowd was not deterred.
Peacekeeping volunteers held rainbow umbrellas and balloons in front of the protesters, and in front of them, attendees with drums drowned out the noise.
“Love is love,” said peacekeeping volunteer Deb Hager. “Love should not use bullhorns, you know? Or call people names.”
In addition to being a celebration, this year’s Pride had another mission: registering voters. The League of Women Voters was on site with other tabling organizations, encouraging registration and providing assistance.
“There is a quote out there that’s ‘queer the vote,’” Cook said about the initiative. “That’s where real change happens.”
The celebration continued well throughout the afternoon before festivities wrapped in order to give enjoyers time to prepare for the new Pride after-party, a 21 and older celebration at the Basement from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
This year’s Pride was sponsored by several local businesses, including Chumley’s, 3 Dots, Centre Insight Counseling and more. The event was co-sponsored by Downtown State College, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the State College Borough.
“It’s about acceptance, you know?,” State College Borough Council member Kevin Kassab said earlier this week, before marching in the parade with fellow council members. “I can’t imagine anybody coming and not enjoying themselves for the day.”
