GayNEPA.com - Serving the Gay Community in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Poconos Region of Pennsylvania

Everyone -

I want to share with you two letters to the editor that have appeared regarding PrideFest.  To say how proud I am of those others willing to put their name in print to stand up for our organization and cause is an understatement.

The letters appear below.

Warm regards,
John Dawe
Executive Director

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The first letter appeared from the Rev. Daniel C. Gunn, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.  Fr. Gunn’s letter appeared in Sunday’s Times Leader:

To the Editor:

When will hate cease to make news?  I read your article about the success of Pridefest.  In the article you mentioned that “some local churches” had tables at the event, yet you did not name them.  However, you went to great lengths to name those who protested the event, and even quoted their hate-filled message.  My church was represented at Pridefest.  I attended the event.  I was there to be a counter-voice to those who condemn any who are unlike themselves.  In the future if you are going to quote someone who condemns others using biblical language please provide an equally supportive voice from another person of faith—like someone from the two churches unnamed in your article.

On a similar note, I would like this event to serve as the genesis of a larger conversation within the community about intolerance toward “the other.”  I invite dialogue about racial, sexual, and religious difference, and I will open the doors of my church to anyone who wants to have that conversation.

(The Rev’d) Daniel C. Gunn
Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-cathedral
Wilkes-Barre

The second letter is from Mary Rapach of Scranton, and appeared in today’s Citizens’ Voice:

Editor:

I am writing to express my disappointment with the recent coverage of PrideFest 2008, which was so heavily focused on the protesters who were in attendance. I certainly agree that they were a notable part of the event, but to give such weighted attention to the negative aspect of what was, overall, a phenomenal success for the LGBTQ community in NEPA is terribly unfortunate — and certainly not an accurate portrayal of this spectacular day of celebration.

The group of closed-minded individuals who drove so far to protest certainly illustrated how essential the concept and execution of a Pride Event is, as it shows those who were previously unaware the sort of hatred and backlash so many queer Pennsylvanians have become accustomed to. However, this was the first time in our lives any of us have had the opportunity to witness such a large group of LGBTQ individuals celebrating openly here in Northeast PA, and the positive expression of self was overwhelmingly inspirational to those in attendance.

My wife and I ran the children and family activities tent, and I was saddened that no news organization took note of the large family presence that day — including not only those who’d come specifically for the event and those who’d just come for a day in the park and stayed to enjoy the festivities. Having spent eight hours painting the faces of children throughout the day, I was lucky to run into dozens of happy youngsters, enjoying music and fun with their parents, not “gay” parents or “straight” parents — simply… PARENTS. The highlight for me, and for many, was not the angry voice of several naysayers, but the sight of two young sisters skipping from the activities tent with a box of toys in their hand, reveling in their victory over the “super-hard” scavenger hunt which encouraged them not only to meet new people but to learn new things (based on the fact boards on the walkway) about Kirby Park, its founders and its home city.

Certainly there is much more that can be said about an event that celebrates diversity and helps reinforce the childish glee of a day at the park.

I suppose I should be happy with any coverage of the event at all. However, I don’t think we could ever be truly satisfied until our community event receives the same level of press and positive coverage as any other festival held in NEPA.

Until those who were not in attendance can understand the reality of ALL aspects of queer life (including gay parents celebrating with happy, excited children), my fear is that we all will be forever seen as a group of individuals worthy of protesting.

While I appreciate the CV’s presence in the event I hope that, for future events, more focus can be placed on the positive aspect of community pride and less focused on those individuals whose lives are spent trying to destroy it.

Mary F. Rapach
Scranton

This year’s PrideFest ad is on the radio!  Listen on 98.5 KRZ/102.3 The Mountain/Froggy 101/and WILK News Radio to hear it broadcast.

Click to Listen to the PrideFest ‘08 Ad Now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Dawe (570-237-6048) – john@gaynepa.com
Stacey Sobel (215-731-1447 ext. 11) – ssobel@equalitypa.org

7-25-2008 - (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) - On July 23, 2008, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a Commonwealth Court decision striking down the amendments to the state’s hate crimes law that added sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, gender, and mental and physical disability in 2002. The law was overturned based on the procedural way the legislation was passed by the legislature, not the content of the law.

The law, known as the Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act, was amended to include protections for these groups of people by a two-thirds majority of the state House of Representatives and Senate. The legislation was signed into law by Republican Governor Mark Schweiker.

Current Governor Ed Rendell said in a prepared statement, “It’s important to note that the Commonwealth Court’s decision was based on a procedural issue and not on the substance of the amendment. I urge the General Assembly to immediately pass appropriate legislation to fully reinstate this important statute, which originally was enacted with bipartisan support.”

“Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, then known as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, worked to pass this legislation with our coalition partners and drafted the bill’s text.  We are extremely disappointed that some of the most vulnerable people in Pennsylvania are now unprotected by our state’s hate crimes law.  I urge the legislature to once again pass this legislation with all deliberate speed,”  said Stacey Sobel, Esq. Executive Director.

“The case stems from a 2004 incident in Philadelphia where Michael Marcavage, then 25, of the anti-gay evangelical group Repent America organized a protest and was arrested under the law’s ethnic intimidation statute during the 2004 Philly OutFest parade,” said John Dawe, executive director of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, “We’re committed to working with Equality Advocates Pennsylvania, our supporters and partners throughout the region and Commonwealth to reinstate this law so that all citizens of the commonwealth are protected against hate.”

Stephen Glassman, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, added, “It is vitally important for our agency to be able to respond to every act of hate and bias in the Commonwealth no matter who the victim may be. We must protect the rights of people to be free from these hate crimes just as surely as we protect them on the basis of their religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin.” 

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