Toms River Celebrates Inaugural Pride Festival: Photos, Video

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The word of the day was love. Love for the town. Love for family and friends. And love, even in the face of hate.

The inaugural Toms River Pride Festival drew a good crowd for the event that was part street fair, part performance, and wholly understood as a historic event in the township's history.

"Today is about love, acceptance, visibility and respect," said Keely Davenport, one of the organizers of the Toms River Pride Festival and one of the founders of Exit 82 Theatre, which sponsored the event.

Joe Hausvater, a Toms River artist, spoke about the history of the Stonewall riots that happened in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969, in response to law enforcement harassment of gays.

Hausvater said those who fought back that day "had enough of hiding themselves," and of feeling unsafe.

"A single brick changed the world," he said, referring to bricks thrown during the riots, which set the movement that continues to fight for equal treatment today.

The opening remarks included comments from Councilman Maurice "Mo" Hill, who said "The beauty of America is its diversity." Jonathan Petro, chairman of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the need to embrace the diversity that is growing in Toms River. "We are TR and we are inclusive," he said. A Congressional proclamation and message from Rep. Andy Kim was read, and Ashley Chiappano, the safe schools coordinator for Garden State Equality, spoke of the changes that have been made to protect LGBTQ students in schools.

Billy Cardone, one of the other founders of Exit 82 Theatre and organizers of the Toms River Pride Festival, paid tribute to the late Cheryl Spector, a Toms River native and LGBT+ activist, along with former Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Detective Lt. Laurel Hester and her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. It was Hester's fight to will her pension to Andree that prompted changes in the state pension system, a fight that drew national attention to Ocean County almost 14 years ago.

Fourteen years after the freeholders initially denied her request (they later voted to approve her request), the freeholders passed a resolution declaring June Pride Month in Ocean County. Freeholder Director Virginia Haines did come to the opening of the event but did not speak.

"Today is about pride," Cardone said. "TR Pride stands for being proud of a community that is thinking forward, a community that is open and welcoming to all types of people and their authentic selves, a community that sets the example."

It set the example with a mix of families and friends, adults and children. The event was emotional for many in attendance, because of the historic change it represented in the town. Older residents wiped away tears as they listened to the speakers. Younger ones cheered.

There were a few who showed up to protest the event, but even in the face of their naked hate in the form of preaching hellfire and brimstone, the festivalgoers responded with peace and humor, waving at the two women and one man and taking photos with them.

"At least they made their signs rainbow colors," one woman said, then turned back to the festival events.

The full opening remarks are below.

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