Toms River Raises Pride Flag

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River officials marked Pride Month by holding the township's first Pride flag-raising ceremony.

The rainbow flag will fly through the month of June to honor Pride Month.

Mayor Maurice Hill, along with Councilwoman Laurie Huryk and Councilmen Kevin Geoghegan, Matt Lotano and Terrance Turnbach, participated in the flag-raising along with Toms River Administrator Don Guardian; Jonathan Petro, chairman of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce; Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little, Deputy Chief Mike Belcher and the Toms River Police Department; Ocean County Freeholders Joe Vicari, Gary Quinn and Ginny Haines, and Lexi Davenport, Billy Cardone and members of Exit 82 Theatre Company.

In June 2019, the township held its first Pride Day celebration with speeches, a street fair and Pride flags all over the downtown area. The Pride flag (or rainbow flag) has six colors: red represents life, orange is for healing, yellow is sunshine, green means nature, blue represents harmony, and purple is spirit. The flag will fly through the month of June to honor Pride Month.

Plans were in the works for a second Pride celebration until the coronavirus crisis disrupted the plans. Exit 82 plans to keep the tradition alive by hosting a modified Pride celebration to show the community that "we are still here and stronger than this pandemic."

Instead, Exit 82 has planned a "Drive Thru Pride" festival on June 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot on Hyers Street (located behind Daddio’s and Wellspring Church).

Following the Drive Thru event, there will be an afternoon and evening of online performances and presentations by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Drive Thru Pride will be a closed off drive-through path filled with volunteers, supporters and a few businesses that all stand with the LGBTQIA+ community.

Social distancing guidelines will be enforced, and no one will have to get out of their car. There will be music, fun and lots of love!

Following the Drive Thru event, Exit 82 will be offering a variety of entertainment and resources all online to enjoy from the comfort of home.

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