ALLENTOWN, PA \u2013 Today Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center announced details for the 2020 Virtual Lehigh Valley Pride Festival, presented by Gilead Sciences, Inc. The virtual pride festival will take place on August 16th and will feature virtual youth and teen programs, a virtual faith service, a virtual-reality vendor fair, a virtual pride guide, and a televised \u201cPridestream\u201d event on RCN TV, Facebook Live, and YouTube Live.<\/p>\n
The Pridestream includes a star-studded ensemble of national celebrities as well as local talent. Some of the highlights include:<\/p>\n
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- Drag race judges Carson Kressley and Michelle Visage<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Drag superstars Jujubee, Alexis Mateo, Kahanna Montrese, Coco Montrese, and Ariel Versace<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Pop Rock star Steve Grand, folk music legend Holly Near, and country musician Brandon Stansell<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Comedian Suzanne Westenhoeffer<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Actors Theo Germaine (The Politician) and Peter Paige (Queer as Folk)<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Professional athletes Ashley Vox (pro-wrestler) and Kurtis Gabriel (pro-hockey player)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The Pridestream will be broadcasted on RCN TV on August 16 from 2-5pm across the state of Pennsylvania as well as streamed Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center\u2019s Facebook Live and YouTube channel. More information about the Pridestream, as well as the virtual faith service, KidsSpace and TeenSpace programs, vendor fair, and pride guide are at www.bradburysullivancenter.org\/pride<\/a><\/p>\n
“When faced with the challenging but necessary decision to transition Lehigh Valley Pride to a virtual experience, we knew it was important to create an exciting lineup, we our hope community will join us to turn out for pride and to celebrate from home” said Adrian Shanker, executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.<\/p>\n
Ariel Torres, Pride Programs Manager at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, added, \u201cWhile COVID-19 may have cancelled our in-person pride experience it did not cancel pride — Lehigh Valley Pride 2020 will be fun, engaging, and safe. Our community can participate from home and can enjoy the national and local talent that has come together to make this year\u2019s pride festival incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information and details about the 2020 Virtual Lehigh Valley Pride, visit www.bradburysullivancenter.org\/pride<\/a><\/p>\n
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THE MAIN EVENT: Get Ready for the 2020 Lehigh Valley Virtual Pridestream!<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Tune in at 2pm on August 16th on\u00a0RCN TV<\/a>\u00a0or on Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center\u2019s\u00a0Facebook Live<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0YouTube Live<\/a>\u00a0for an exciting virtual Pridestream featuring some very special guests! Just some of the guests joining us include drag race judges\u00a0Michele Visage<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Carson Kressley<\/strong>, drag superstars\u00a0Jujubee<\/strong>,\u00a0Alexis Mateo<\/strong>,\u00a0Ariel Versace<\/strong>,\u00a0Coco Montrese,<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Kahanna Montrese<\/strong>, Pop Rock star\u00a0Steve Grand<\/strong>, folk music legend\u00a0Holly Near<\/strong>, Comedian\u00a0Suzanne Westenhoeffer<\/strong>, actors\u00a0Theo Germaine<\/strong>\u00a0(The Politician), and\u00a0Peter Paige<\/strong>\u00a0(Queer as Folk), and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health\u00a0Dr. Rachel Levine<\/strong>! There will be some surprise guests as well!!!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pre-Pride Faith Service sponsored and hosted by\u00a0Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Metropolitan Community Church of the\u00a0 Lehigh Valley is hosting the official pre-pride faith service at 11:30am on August 16.\u00a0To access MCCLV’s livestream on Sundays at 11:30am please visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MCCLehig<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Kid’s Space sponsored by\u00a0ESSA Bank and Trust<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Youth up to age 13 and their parents are invited to an hour of family-friends pride activities featuring children\u2019s book author\u00a0Jacinta Bunnell<\/strong>\u00a0who will read from her soon-to-be-released and highly anticipated new Children\u2019s Book,\u00a0A More Graceful Shaboom<\/em>. This is the first children\u2019s book to have a non-binary protaganist who uses they\/them pronouns. Then\u00a0Tirsa Rothman<\/strong>\u00a0from Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley will facilitate arts and crafts, and finally,\u00a0Miss Amie Vanit\u00e9<\/strong>\u00a0will lead Drag Queen Story Time, sponsored by\u00a0Gardner Law Offices<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Teen Space sponsored by\u00a0Valley Youth House<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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- Youth ages 14-21 are invited to a virtual open house with Project SILK Lehigh Valley at 11am on August 16 and are invited to return later that day at\u00a0 5pm for a virtual teen panel about what pride means to you! Check back to our website soon on how to participate!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Virtual Vendor Fair:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Stop by our virtual vendor fair to connect with non-profits and businesses serving the LGBT community! The vendor fail will be available the entire week leading up to Pride and details on how to visit will be published our website on August 9!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Virtual Pride Guide:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- We will be publishing our pride guide virtually this year the week leading up to Pride and will have full details about our exciting virtual pride lineup! The Virtual Pride Guide will be up and available for download closer to the date of the Pridestream!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Of course, we all truly wish it was safe to gather in person, but pride cannot be cancelled and we look forward to celebrating with you virtually on August 16th!<\/p>\n
Information Provided By:
\nAriel Torres – Pride Programs Manager
\nAdrian Shanker – Executive Director
\nBradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
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- We will be publishing our pride guide virtually this year the week leading up to Pride and will have full details about our exciting virtual pride lineup! The Virtual Pride Guide will be up and available for download closer to the date of the Pridestream!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Stop by our virtual vendor fair to connect with non-profits and businesses serving the LGBT community! The vendor fail will be available the entire week leading up to Pride and details on how to visit will be published our website on August 9!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Youth ages 14-21 are invited to a virtual open house with Project SILK Lehigh Valley at 11am on August 16 and are invited to return later that day at\u00a0 5pm for a virtual teen panel about what pride means to you! Check back to our website soon on how to participate!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Youth up to age 13 and their parents are invited to an hour of family-friends pride activities featuring children\u2019s book author\u00a0Jacinta Bunnell<\/strong>\u00a0who will read from her soon-to-be-released and highly anticipated new Children\u2019s Book,\u00a0A More Graceful Shaboom<\/em>. This is the first children\u2019s book to have a non-binary protaganist who uses they\/them pronouns. Then\u00a0Tirsa Rothman<\/strong>\u00a0from Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley will facilitate arts and crafts, and finally,\u00a0Miss Amie Vanit\u00e9<\/strong>\u00a0will lead Drag Queen Story Time, sponsored by\u00a0Gardner Law Offices<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Metropolitan Community Church of the\u00a0 Lehigh Valley is hosting the official pre-pride faith service at 11:30am on August 16.\u00a0To access MCCLV’s livestream on Sundays at 11:30am please visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MCCLehig<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Drag superstars Jujubee, Alexis Mateo, Kahanna Montrese, Coco Montrese, and Ariel Versace<\/strong><\/li>\n