PrideFest To Embrace LGBTQ+ Youth With Family-Friendly Events

NEW HOPE, PA — In addition to its annual Flag Unfurling, Pride Parade and Pride Fair, which are fun for individuals of all ages, New Hope Celebrates (NHC) has announced the addition of three events specifically designed for youth at its 20th Anniversary - Find Your Pride - PrideFest 2023.

"Drag Queen Story Hour," "Service for Justice" and "Out on Campus" will be taking place at the LGBTQ+ celebration in New Hope and Lambertville, N.J., later this month.

“We want to make sure that all LGBTQ+ youth their allies feel represented at our 2023 PrideFest events, especially due to potential legislation affecting our community and the policy changes that have happened and are being considered by local school districts," said Melissa Patterson, President of NHC. "Our LGBTQ+ youth and their allies deserve our love and support as they travel their own journeys to find their Pride!”

• Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) will take place indoors at the Lambertville Free Public Library located at 6 Lilly Street, Lambertville, N.J. 08530 on Sunday, May 7 at 11 a.m. Hosts Summer Clearance and Miss New Hope Celebrates 2023 Phoebe Manntrappe will read a variety of children's books. DQSH teaches children to embrace gender diversity in themselves and others and helps to curb bullying of LGBTQ+ children and kids who may be perceived as different in all kinds of ways.

• "Service for Justice: Voices from the Classroom" will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church located at 10 Chapel Road, New Hope on Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. There will be a service led by Michael Ruk with a panel of LGBQ students and allies at local high schools discussing their high school experiences in this complicated, politically and emotionally fraught time.

Flags across the river. (Photo courtesy of New Hope Celebrates)

• In conjunction with the New Hope Celebrates History Committee, a new traveling exhibit, "Out on Campus: A History of LGBTQ+ Activism at Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities," will be on display during regular business hours from Monday, May 15 to Monday, May 29 at New Hope Ferry Market, located at 32 S. Main Street New Hope. New Hope Ferry Market is an upbeat, inviting environment that offers healthy and flavorful made-to-order culinary delights from 13 regular food and drink vendors. The exhibit presents the stories of how some of the earliest LGBTQ+ student organizations and activism came into being at colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, as well as experiences and personal stories of being openly LGBTQ+ on campus.

"We are very excited to showcase another collaborative history exhibit with the PA LGBTQ
History Network. I am proud to say that our committee contributed to the research and
editorial of the informative panels. We hope everyone gets an opportunity to see, read and
learn about ‘OUT on Campus’ during our Pride week in May," said Daniel Brooks, NHC and
NHCH founder.

To schedule a public showing, contact DanBrooks@newhopecelebrates.com.

"Like NHC’s signature annual events, these are all open to the public and free to attend," said Brooks. "We encourage parents and guardians to accompany children under the age of 18. NHC looks forward to ringing in their 20th Anniversary of bringing people together to share in a celebration of history, diversity and the inclusiveness of the New Hope and Lambertville community."