Inaugural Montclair Pride theme “Be You. Be Heard.” to honor LGBTQIA+ youth and families with Main Stage performances and dedicated Family Pride Zone and School of Rock Stage for kids and families
Special guest speakers include acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Donald Payne Jr., out state leader Commissioner Shawn LaTourette from the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill and Mayor Sean Spiller
Out Montclair Founder and President Peter Yacobellis, Montclair’s first out Town Council Member and former aide to Hillary Clinton will deliver the “Be You. Be Heard.” address, the theme of Montclair Pride 2022. Yacobellis will center the importance of diversity and unity in Montclair at a time of increased state-sponsored discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people and youth across the country. Yacobellis is a longtime civil rights leader had helped lead efforts for marriage equality in New York and New Jersey, the reversal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill, creating a next generational wave of supporters and funders for The Trevor Project called “Trevor NextGen”, serving as Finance Director for Garden State Equality and now head of Out Montclair.
“With anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and laws taking place across America, we have to come together in a town like ours in celebration of who we are and in solidarity with our allies. The front line in the battle for equality and acceptance is in the suburbs. I’m proud that we have elementary school kids involved, right on up to seniors.” said Out Montclair President and Montclair Town Council Member, Peter Yacobellis.
“Our 2022 theme is "Be You. Be Heard." is about inviting all to come as their authentic selves and express themselves through opportunities our festival will provide — from enjoying performances to creating art, to registering to vote, to simply being with fellow community members. Post-pandemic and with an epidemic of extremism across the country, Pride festivals are more important than ever. We’re here to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people and our allies and commit to securing the progress we’ve made together.
The 12-6 pm festival and stages are free and take over most of Downtown Montclair on June 11th. A Guide to Pride, with stage schedules and logistical information, will be published on www.outmontclair.org / www.montclairpride.org.
SPECIAL GUESTS AND PERFORMERS INCLUDE:
BROADWAY CAST OF “JAGGED LITTLE PILL”
CARMEN CARRERA FROM “RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE,” IN CONVERSATION WITH CELESTE FIORE, FOUNDER, TRANS AFFIRMING ALLIANCE
NEW JERSEY NATIVE, COMEDIAN AND EMCEE JUDY GOLD
SINGER AND TRANS ACTIVIST PEPPERMINT
OUT NJ STATE COMMISSIONER SHAWN LATOURETTE AS WELL AS FIRST OUT TOWN COUNCILOR PETER YACOBELLIS, ALSO FOUNDER/PRESIDENT OF OUT MONTCLAIR
EMMY WINNING HOST OF “PRIDELAND” AND “POSE STAR” DYLLON BURNSIDE
J-LINE, JORDY, DAKOTA JONES, GABI SKLAR
VANGUARD THEATER CAST OF “RENT”
LOCAL LGBTQIA+ TALENT AND KIDS AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT ON THE SCHOOL OF ROCK STAGE, INCLUDING LADY KENYATE, APEX ENSEMBLE AND DRUMS OF THUNDER FROM HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Inaugural Montclair Pride theme “Be You. Be Heard.” to honor LGBTQIA+ youth and families with Main Stage performances and dedicated Family Pride Zone and School of Rock Stage for kids and families
Special guest speakers include acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Donald Payne Jr., out state leader Commissioner Shawn LaTourette from the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill and Mayor Sean Spiller
150+ local, regional and national sponsors including Tristate Audi Dealers and Montclair Center BID
ABOUT MONTCLAIR PRIDE
The Montclair Pride festival, hosted by Out Montclair, will raise awareness and strengthen ties in our community and among all LGBTQ+ people and allies in the region, as well as provide a celebration filled with art, culture, food, music and live performances to uplift LGBTQ+ people, issues and history. Visit www.montclairpride.org to see the 9 days of events leading up to this first-ever festival.
