Mourning the loss of one of our community members

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Gregory Courtesis AKA Bianca DeMonet. Greg was involved with Reading Pride Celebration throughout the years. As Bianca DeMonet, he has served in the court of Miss Reading Pride Celebration. His passion, creativity, dedication, and kindness will be missed by many. Our most sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and friends. The drag and LGBT community will certainly feel this loss. We thank you for your contributions to life and for your spirit. Rest in Peace.

A Post-Election Message from the President of Reading Pride Celebration

In response to the political situation after Tuesday’s election...


We in the LGBTQA+ community find ourselves confused and some have expressed concern about our civil rights.  Do not panic!  It would be difficult if not impossible for the President to take away our marriage rights.  The Supreme Court has made their decision and to overturn that decision would be difficult and take time to change. Basically, marriage equality is the only federally supported right that we have.

Remember before the Supreme Court decision for marriage equality, individual States had approved marriage equality either by legislation or by federal judges’ rulings.  In Pennsylvania, we do not have state-wide protections that would protect the LGBTQA+ community in housing, service and employment as all other minority groups do such as discrimination in race, creed, disabilities, etc.  More and more local municipalities are considering or already have these protections  The City of Reading is the only municipality in Greater Reading that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the ordinance against discrimination in 2009.  The Human Relations Commission 610.655.6141’for the City of Reading which has two LGBT Commissioners on its Board is the agency that would investigate any violations to the ordinance.  So it is important to continue to support our rights on the State and even local levels.

Reading Pride Celebration with Greater Reading Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Reading and Berks county Community Foundation for the past two year have worked on the “LBGT Initiative” to have businesses and organization sign a pledge to welcome and serve the LGBTQA+ community in there establishment and treat any LGBTQA+ employees equally within their place of business creating a safe and diverse atmosphere.  About 170 business and organizations have signed up on our resource page and display a rainbow sticker with Greater Reading printed across the bottom.  This is a way to educate people regarding the LGBTQA+ community and the struggle we have for our civil rights.  Patronize those found on our resource page and encourage other businesses and organizations you patronize to sign the pledge on our resource page or call us for further information.  If we cannot get blanketed federal protections then we have to work on local governments, businesses and organizations.    

What is more at risk are the more recent rights granted to our Transgender community such as expedite changing of names and gender on federal documents which if you have not completed do so before the new administration is sworn in Washington, D.C. January 20th. LGBT protections granted to federal employees also by Presidential executive order are at risk you may want to seek legal advice through a lawyer or union.

Also if you know anyone who is without health insurance, it is strongly suggested that they apply for the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) which can be completed on line at www.healthcare.gov x, by calling 1.800.318.2596 or by calling Berks Community Health Center 610.988.4838 (www.berkschc.net) for an in person appointment.  We know that this program will be at high risk of being repealed but signing up now may give you an extra year of coverage you might not otherwise have.  Do it now and do not wait for the December 31st deadline!   

So where do we go from here during this time of uncertainly and how the changes may effect not just our community but others that experience discrimination like women, people of color, groups of people who are judged by actions of a few such as Muslims, and people from certain regions of the world, the disenfranchised are all at risk. Remember, together “WE THE PEOPLE …” have the power to make a difference, to unite our struggles, tell our stories of who we are and be there for each other.  So if you receive a “Call to Action” from an advocacy group, do not ignore it but instead act on it, sign that petition, march for a cause, attend that seminar to educate and advocate or volunteer with that group that is trying to make a difference.  Together we can make a difference!  

Should you have questions, need referrals or want to volunteer call us at Reading Pride Celebration 484.240.9660 (www.readingpridecelebration.com), or the newly formed The LGBT Center of Greater Reading 610.698.4063 (www.thecenterofrdg.org) or our good friends at the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in the Lehigh Valley 610.347.9988 (www.bradburysullivancenter.org).  Stay informed and get involved!

With Pride,

Ben

Benedict M. Renkus, President

Reading Pride Celebration

PO Box 15242

Reading, PA 19612-5242

484.240.9660

info@readingpridecelebration.com

www.readingpridecelebration.org

 

NATIONALLY KNOWN LGBT JOURNALIST TO SPEAK AT KU

KUTZTOWN, Pa., Sept. 30 — In honor of LGBT History Month, the nation’s most awarded LGBT journalist Mark Segal will speak at Kutztown University on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium in the McFarland Student Union.  The event is free and open to the public.

Respected by his peers for pioneering the idea of local LGBT newspapers, Segal is one of the founders and former president of both The National Gay Press Association and the National Gay Newspaper Guild. He is known as the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. His memoir, “And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality” was released in October and has become a best seller.

In June 1969 Segal was one of the four members of the action group that organized demonstrations for three nights after the infamous Stonewall riots. He joined forces with others to create the Gay Liberation Front, which signified the new radicalization of the gay community in New York.

Wanting to take the community out of isolation, Segal created the Gay Raiders and took the fight national. The Raiders’ campaign against the television networks changed America and the gay Rights struggle.

Segal was America's first gay television star when he disrupted the CBS “Evening News with Walter Cronkite,” an event covered in newspapers across the country and viewed by 60 percent of American households, many seeing or hearing about homosexual rights for the first time.

Segal founded the Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) in 1975. He has served on dozens of boards and commissions, including the Philadelphia International Airport Board.  In 1974, he created the historic Governor's Council for Sexual Minorities. This was the first governmental body in the world to specifically look at the problems faced by the LGBT community. That was followed by the first executive order banning discrimination in state government.

Aside from publishing PGN, Segal has also reported on gay life from far-reaching places as Lebanon, Cuba and East Berlin during the fall of the Berlin Wall. He represented the gay press and lectured in Moscow and St. Petersburg at Russia's first openly gay conference, referred to as Russia's Stonewall.

Segal currently coordinates a network of local gay publications nationally to celebrate October as gay history month, with a combined print run reaching over a half-million readers.

Segal was recently inducted into the National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association's Hall of Fame, appointed a member of the Comcast/NBC Universal Joint Diversity Board where he advises the entertainment giant on LGBT issues.

For more information contact Christine Price, director, KU GLBTQ Resource Center, at 484-646-4111 or price@kutztown.edu.

Eat for Change

Happy to have Chester County, Greater Lehigh Valley, Reading Pride Celebration , and NEPA Pride groups participating in the Chipotle Fundraiser, Tuesday, October 11, 11 am to 10 pm. 

  • Exton 1550 (Chester County)
  • Reading 1546 (Reading)
  • Wilkes Barre 2411 and Dickson City 2234 (NEPA)
  • Lehigh Valley 1794 and Cedar Crest 2432 (Greater Lehigh Valley)

Dining at any of the above restaurants will support these pride organizations, including Reading Pride Celebration.

Thanks in advance!

 

Social Security: What Same-Sex Couples Need to Know

Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at 9am  there will be a 50+ LGBT coffee in collaboration with Berks Encore.  Berks Encore is located at N. 9th Street, Reading, PA 19601.

Dot Hartman, VP Community Based Aging Services, Berks Encore, will present information on “Social Security: What Same-Sex Couples Need to Know”. 

Please contact the following person with any questions:

James Young, President
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading
580 Willow Street
Reading, PA  19602
610-741-3923
jyoung@thecenterofrdg.org

Pride Picnic at Knoebels

The 22nd Annual Pride Picnic at Knoebels Grove
Saturday August 13 2016
Knoebels Grove, Elysburg PA
Pavilion T-10
Picnic is free (rides are not included)
There is no advance registration
11 am starts check in
Meal is at 3:00 PM
GAY RIDE OF THE DAY: Pioneer Train (7pm)
Bring a covered dish to share. (Note if you bring a cold covered dish please provide proper accommodations to keep dish cold, like a cooler with ice. Also if you bring a hot dish please provide accommodations to keep it hot, we provide electricity for your crock pots)
Show your pride by wearing a RED shirt!
The day of the event we will have great speakers, information tables, door prizes, raffles, and amazing food and fun!

*Pride Picnic at Knoebels Grove is not sponsored by Knoebels Amusement Resort

10th Anniversary RPC T-Shirt - Must order by 6/23!

LIMITED TIME ONLY!! Order your special edition 10th Anniversary RPC T-Shirt and get it in time to wear for this years Pride festival! Ordering will be available until Thursday, June 23, to ensure printing and delivery in time for this year's event! Shirts are available in youth sizes, also in long sleeves, and hoodies! Please order now and share this post! These will NOT be available to purchase at the festival and can only be purchased through the link provided. https://www.bonfirefunds.com/reading-pride-celebration-10th…