BANGOR, Pa. — Northampton County’s LGBTQ+ community turned out Saturday for the second annual Slate Belt Pride festival — an effort to create visibility and acceptance in a conservative region of the Lehigh Valley.
“The goal of today is to bring our community together,” said organizer Marc Sperling, 37, of Bangor.
The event was put on by the Slate Belt LGBTQ+ Community Association and the LGBTQ Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. It took place on Broadway Street between South First and South Main streets in Bangor. The Pride festival was funded with the help of 15 sponsors and featured food vendors, musicians, artisans, drag performances and face painting.
There were representatives on-site from local and statewide LGBT-focused organizations, such as PFLAG Nazareth/Lehigh Valley, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center and the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project.
Sperling said Slate Belt Pride shows LGBT people in the region they’re not alone. There’s people and organizations willing to offer support and resources.
“We are a huge community and we’re here to welcome you and we’re here for you,” he said.
After the success of last year’s Pride event, the Slate Belt LGBTQ+ Community Association has been fundraising to continue the annual Pride celebration and to open a community center for at-risk LGBT youth in the Slate Belt region.
Sperling, a co-founder of the association, said it will take about $500,000 for his organization to open a center in the next few years. That amount would cover the costs of renting or buying a building, providing educational materials and paying staff.
”I think it's growing, I think with us doing what we’re doing today it’s going to help the area grow and become more accepting.”Marc Sperling
He said youth need a “safe place” where they can spend time with other people who are like them. There was no such place in Bangor when Sperling came out as a gay man at 18 years old in 2005. The region was “not at all a LGBT-friendly area” back then, he said.
“I think it’s growing,” he added. "I think with us doing what we’re doing today it’s going to help the area grow and become more accepting.”
Joshua Biechy, another organizer, had a similar experience growing up as a gay youth in Bangor. He wants today’s LGBT youth to have a different experience.
“They don’t have to hide who they are,” said Biechy, 38, who still resides in Bangor.
Biechy remembers attending his first Pride celebration in New York City in 2006, he said. It made him want to get involved with Slate Belt Pride.
“It was overwhelming, but honestly it was amazing,” he said. “The acceptance of the community in New York, it was just something that I want to bring to the Slate Belt.”
Many families came out to the Pride festival on Saturday.
Anna-Greta Scott, 11, of Mount Bethel, came with her mother and brother. She identifies as a lesbian.
“My favorite part is how I feel accepted here,” she said.
Matthew Henry, 45, of Nazareth, came to Pride with his stepson. Henry, who was born and raised in Bangor, said he was excited to see Pride in his hometown, but he had hoped the event would be bigger.
“There’s still some work that’s got to be done, but we’re going in the right direction,”Matthew Henry
Henry said Pride events are important to reach equality for LGBT people.
“There’s still some work that’s got to be done, but we’re going in the right direction,” he said.
Diane and Chris Horoschock, of Bethlehem, listened to the musical events at Slate Belt Pride, which they said was even better than last year. The married couple said they go to local Pride events every chance they get.
“I’m the happiest here. I feel safe here. This is my family. This is my community for sure,” Diane Horoschock said.
“I think that it brings us out into the community so that we’re seen,” Chris Horoschock added. “So I think it’s this sense of family, community and just the freedom to be who I am, just to be seen.”
