Union County Hosts PRIDE IN PLACE June 22-26
Union County Hosts PRIDE IN PLACE June 22-26
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the 2020 PRIDE IN PLACE virtual series of events to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month beginning Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26.
Online registration is required for each event at ucnj.org/lgbtq.
“The Freeholder Board is proud to host events that celebrate all identities in one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Here in Union County we stand firm in our resolve to support the LGBTQ community through advocacy, awareness and action.”
The week kicks off at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22 with Drag Queen Story Hour hosted by Harmonica Sunbeam. The hour will be packed with children’s stories, sing-along songs, and a rainbow craft. All participants are invited to dress up in your own fabulous costume.
PRIDE IN PLACE will also feature four special events each evening beginning on June 23:
Bring your best LGBTQ history and pop culture knowledge to the Zoom gathering on Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 PM for LGBTQ Trivia Night (PG). Kick off the night with a strong mix of LGBTQ themed and pop culture factoids. Picture rounds, music rounds, plenty of random facts and interesting tidbits – show off what you know or just be the one to whip out the perfect winning answer.
On Wednesday, June 24 at 7:00 PM, zoom in for an inclusive Beauty Queen Makeup Demo with Bella Rococo at Emilia’s, sponsored by WellCare Health Plans. Makeup artists will explore products, shades and techniques with step-by-step guidance from lips to lashes for different skin tones and textures.
On Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 PM, Union County’s first openly gay Freeholder Rebecca Williams will moderate the Violence and Justice in the LGBTQ Community panel discussion with guest panelists that offer a perspective from law enforcement, to New Jersey civil rights and the work of LGBTQ equality from an advocacy organization’s perspective. Participants will have an opportunity engage in the conversation and ask questions of the panelists during the live stream.
The final evening event will take place on Friday, June 26 at 6:00 PM with a Pasta Party (cooking demo) featuring pasta drag queen Cissy Walker. Learn how to make delicious, fresh pasta and enjoy a drag show from the ultimate Pasta Queen no matter where you are! Cook along with Cissy at home, or simply tune in for a festive night of entertainment.
“This series of Pride in Place virtual events is especially important to the LGBTQ community, where many people may be vulnerable to feelings of isolation during this period of separation and social distance,” said Freeholder Rebecca Williams, who is liaison to the LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. “Pride events continue to bring awareness to LGBTQ inequalities and issues that impact quality of life. On the 50th anniversary of the first Pride Parade, this Freeholder Board is proud to host events that make Pride accessible to everyone in their homes while we observe COVID public health guidelines.”
PRIDE IN PLACE will also include lunchtime activities. During the week of June 22 through June 26, from 12:00 Noon until 1:00 PM, the Freeholder Board will host the PRIDE Lunch and Learn series, consisting of conversations with nonprofit organizations and community groups serving the LGBTQ community.
The PRIDE Lunch and Learn series is a town hall-style event that includes an overview of the mission and work of the presenting organization, and an opportunity for viewers to ask questions.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday, June 22: New Jersey Inclusive Curriculum discussion with Garden State Equality
Wednesday, June 24: Know Your Rights discussion with the NJ State Division of Civil Rights
Friday, June 26: Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Safe Spaces (for students and colleagues) discussion with New Jersey Safe Schools Coalition
Additional details will be posted to ucnj.org/lgbtq.
All throughout PRIDE IN PLACE, community members are invited to participate in Pride at Home by visiting ucnj.org/lgbtq for a list of activities to do any time at home, including a chalk the walk with pride throughout your community, color the different LGBTQ flags or design your own, or complete any of the activity pages available online.
The week of June 22-26 also features Union County’s “One County with Pride” celebration. Throughout the events and activities of the week, participants are invited to submit photos and videos (30 seconds or less) of the ways in which they are celebrating Pride to the Office of LGBTQ Affairs (dnewbury@ucnj.org).
Submissions that are emailed by Sunday, June 28 will be considered for a video compilation posted to Union County social media and website, and distributed to local media outlets.
Union County’s PRIDE IN PLACE virtual series of events is organized by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs under the Department of Economic Development. The Office of LGBTQ Affairs was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first and only county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey.
The Office of LGBTQ Affairs provides a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.
For more information about the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, contact Danni Newbury, Coordinator, at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/lgbtq.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidelines on the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.
For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019.
