by Michael Mahler

On Saturday, August 27, about 230 people participated in the Erie Pride Parade & Rally. This year's Pride events were organized by the Pride Planning committee, which is an informal coalition of groups and individuals.

Parade

About 100 people marched in the parade from the Zone Dance Club to Perry Square. John Daly King was the Grand Marshal for the parade, in a convertible driven by Caitlyn. Also in the parade were beloved local gay icons Jesse and Ricardo, who rode their tandem bike.

Parade units included

Lake Erie Belly Dance
Doctor Who contingent
PFLAG Erie/Crawford County
Erie Gay News
Lake Erie Derby Dames
LBT Women
Latonia Theatre
PFLAG Butler
Erie Sisters
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie
Community United Church
OUT (Pittsburgh newspaper)

There were also many people marching as individuals, as well as a float carrying current and former Miss Eries.

Rally

The rally in Perry Square begins at 2 PM and will include speakers and performers. Please check in at the registration table when you arrive in Perry Square. The rally will include a variety of vendors and information booths.

Speakers and performers included:

Greg Rabb, Openly gay Jamestown City Council President and Councilman at Large
Misty Kall, Miss Erie 2011
Rich McCarty of Equality PA, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality and Community United Church
Chris Wolfe, Erie Idol finalist 2011
Tammie Johnson, 2 term President of ACLU-NWPA
Brian T, singer, also with Pittsburgh Out TV
Jason Landau Goodman, founding Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition. The first and only youth-led statewide LGBTQ organization in the nation
Michelle Michaels, Former Miss Erie and Coordinator for FACE Show at Zone
Fiona Hensley, Chair of the Student Network Across Pennsylvania, SNAP, Regional Chair of the Erie-West region for SNAP and President of Queers and Allies at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
Diva D'Vyne