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County set to celebrate Pride Day at park

Photo from Lt. Gov Fetterman’s Twitter account Lt. Gov. John Fetterman at a recent Pride event in State College. Fetterman will speak at Warren County’s Pride Day event set for June 26.

Warren County is set to celebrate Pride Day on June 26 with an event highlighted by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is aimed “to both celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community regionally.”

The free event will include costume contests, giveaw ays, music, activities, resource tables and vendors. It’s aimed to be inclusive and open to all-ages “celebrating diversity and promoting equality, acceptance, tolerance, and love throughout beautiful Warren County, Pennsylvania.”

It’s open to both members of the LGBTQIA+ community regionally as well as allies.

Fetterman is one of those allies.

Times Observer file photo About 70 people are estimated to have taken part in the 2020 Warren Pride Day event.

“Lt. Governor Fetterman has a long history (with) LGBTQ rights,” Doug Hearn said. “He granted same sex marriages before it was recognized in the Commonwealth.”

While Saturday is about celebrating and supporting the community, it’s about more than that, as well.

“Pride is not just any summer festival. It is a celebration — but it is also a manifestation of human rights,” Hearn said. “It is serious and joyful. It is a reminder of the progress that has been made, but also of everything that still remains to be done. This is a responsibility that we all share.”

“Here in Warren County and the City of Warren, we have come a relatively long way when it comes to LGBTQI rights. But what we see as self-evident – or at least would like to believe is self-evident – is unthinkable for many,” he added. “LGBTQI people are still persecuted, harassed and afraid to be visible For me, this is totally inconceivable. At the same time, we must not forget that here in Warren County and Pennsylvania there are many people – young and old – who are afraid to be open.

“If you are one of those who cannot or dare not be open about who you are, I just want you to know one thing: You have the right to be exactly who you are, and there are many of us who stand behind you. I stand behind you.”

“It is important for the people of the local LGBTQIA+ community to feel loved and accepted for who they are because historically speaking, this has not been the case,” Sara Culver Provencio added. “From acts of violence and intimidation to being passed over for employment based on physical appearance there are countless negative real-life experiences faced by LGBTQIA+ people.

“One day of safe celebration at home is key to establishing community.”

Lead organizer Jill Sumner said Warren County Pride is important to her because but has a transgender sibling “but also because I have many queer friends and colleagues.

“I stand with the LGBTQIA community at Pride against homophobia, hate, and discrimination while setting the expectation of inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, and equality,” Sumner said.

A full slate event of events is available warrencountypride.wixsite.com/website and people can connect with organizers on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok.

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