ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The city was home to a Pride Parade on Sunday for the first time in about 20 years.
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center hosted a Pride Parade on Hamilton Street as part of the Lehigh Valley Pride celebration. The center’s pride festival in Bethlehem and an Easton flag-raising ceremony happened on the same day.
- The first Pride Parade in about 20 years came to Hamilton Street on Sunday
- It was part of the celebration for the 30th anniversary of Lehigh Valley Pride
- Lehigh Valley Pride, which used to be a separate organization, held several parades in the early 2000s
About 50 people marched down the street, holding banners and pride flags. The Philadelphia Freedom Band marched in the parade, playing hits such as "All The Small Things" by Blink-182.
This year is the 30th anniversary of Lehigh Valley Pride and the first with Bradbury-Sullivan Center’s new executive director, Ashley Coleman.
The Pride Parade was not the first one held in the city. Lehigh Valley Pride, which used to be a separate organization, held several parades in the early 2000s, longtime Lehigh Valley LGBTQ activist Liz Bradbury said in a previous interview.
Hamilton Street was closed between Eighth and 13th streets before and during the parade, as well as some side streets. Parking was not allowed on the street from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Edgar Guapisaca, co-owner of Hamilton Street health food store Nutrición al Día, said while the parade may have slowed business, he was happy to see a community event.
“It’s nice to see something happen on Hamilton Street. It’s beautiful,” Guapisaca said.
‘A city that welcomes everyone’
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk was among those who marched in the parade. He said he “absolutely loves” seeing big events like this downtown, especially for Pride.
“We are a city that welcomes everyone, and we like to show it off,” Tuerk said.
Northampton Borough residents Elisa Rivera and Abby Stoudt said they came expecting to watch the parade, but they were invited to come march in it.
“It made me more proud to be from the area,” Stoudt said.
It was the first Pride Parade they had attended. Rivera said they were glad to see such a celebration in the Lehigh Valley.
“I hope it gets bigger and better every year,” Rivera said.
“Change doesn’t happen unless you participate. It’s worth it to put yourself out there.”
Bethlehem resident Brenig Ghorum
Philadelphia residents Thomas Daniels and Gavin Baker came to the parade as band aides with the Philadelphia Freedom Band. Neither had been to Allentown before.
“My only frame of reference for Allentown was the Billy Joel song, which I heard y’all don’t like, sorry,” Daniels said, laughing. “But it’s adorable and amazing.”
Bethlehem resident Brenig Ghorum attended as a volunteer with the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project. He said he was glad he came to the parade because trans people are sometimes less included in LGBTQ spaces.
“Change doesn’t happen unless you participate,” Ghorum said. “It’s worth it to put yourself out there.”