Tuesday, June 22, 2021

2nd Annual Pottsville Pridefest Set for July 17th

The 2nd Annual Pottsville Pridefest is set to take place on July 17th, 2021 from noon until dusk at the Gen. George Joulwan East Side Park and Lion's Club Amphitheater.

After drawing hundreds to the event and only planning for 2 weeks for it's inaugural event in 2020, Executive Director and Founder Mikaela Gavaletz says they have worked all year to "up the ante" over last years.

Like last years event, Pottsville Pridefest advocates Unity, Tolerance, Inclusion, Peace, and Love for the LGBTQ+ community.

The City of Pottsville's Mayor, Jim Muldowney is scheduled to the launch day's events which includes guest speaker Lt. Governor Jon Fetterman and Pennsylvania State Representative Malcom Kenyatta.

Lt. Governor Fetterman is also a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat and is an outspoken advocate of LGBTQ+ issues and concerns while Kenyatta, a Philadelphia native and an openly gay candidate from PA’s 188th District, will also be competing for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022.

Additional guest speakers will include Pottsville native, Jayne Eckley. Ms. Eckley is completing her PhD in Psychology specializing in treatment of transgender individuals. Robin Glow, Adelphi grad and poet, will round out the speaker segments with poetry readings geared toward trans youth and LGBTQ youth.

A pageant to crown the PrideFest king or queen will be held at 8 p.m. July 10th, 2021 at AMVETS Post 180 in Pottsville, and the winners will be recognized at the July 17 event.  Gavaletz says that the pageant is open to anyone transgender, non binary, non gender conforming, gender fluid and anyone else who believes they can represent and carry the message of inclusion, diversity, equality, non discrimination, peace and love.

Anyone interested can send an application to mikaelagavaletz@youthempowermentsupport.org or franciscoibarra@youthempowermentsupport.org.

For entertainment, drag performances along with live music and DJ services from E&M entertainment.

The venue will also host a variety of vendors, as well as health and outreach resources.

This year's event is being sponsored by D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. among others.