Welcoming our new Secretary!

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It’s time to get to know our Board Members.

Today we would like to congratulate and thank Amber Brown for her dedicated service to the community and our organization. Amber was elected Secretary of Reading Pride Celebration back in October, and accepted, and has been working really hard to help our organization become bigger, better, diverse and more inclusive.

Amber works full time at a local not for profit, in addition to being a full time wife and mother of two, but still finds time to dedicate to Reading Pride. She has been with us since the beginning (14 years) in various roles, always working behind the scenes.

For Amber, giving back is a family affair. At any of our meetings or events, you will always find not only Amber, but her husband Nate, and their two children, always willing to help. Thank you Amber for your years of dedicated service to our community and to Reading Pride Celebration, we are the organization we are today, because of members like you, and look forward to the amazing things we will continue to accomplish together in the future.

If you see Amber, Please thank her.

Welcoming our New Vice President!

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Continuing our presentation of the Board Members, today is the time to meet our Vice President, Enrique Castro. Originally from New York, Enrique has enjoyed the amazing things that the LGBTQ+ community has to offer (friends, support, a place to belong). Now, the husband, father of two and full time small business owner, wants to give back to the community. Starting as a volunteer, Enrique began to make a name for himself in our organization. His unbreakable will, unmeasurable courage to make things work and his love to help others made him the perfect candidate to be our Vice President.
Enrique wants to make Reading Pride Celebration bigger. He wants to see it grow. He is searching to work alongside members of the community of all Greater Reading to feel proud of our siblings and ourselves and see us as the family that we could become. He sees the potential in our organization. Let's prove him right!

Welcome to our new DEI officer, Johnathan Rodriguez!

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As Reading Pride Celebration grows. We are committed to the diversity and inclusiveness of our organization.

With that said it is our honor to have nominated and voted in our first Diversity Equity & Inclusion officer (DEI officer) Johnathan Rodriguez of Berks Teens Matter. We are excited to welcome you to our board and look forward to all the great things we will accomplish together.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Johnathan.

Dance Through the Decades - a fundraiser for the LGBT Center!

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The LGBT Center of Greater Reading invites you to Dance Through the Decades for a great cause on February 29th, 2020 from 6-9pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Reading, PA.

They have an extraordinary night on tap that includes a delicious meal, drinks, dancing, a few awards and a whole lot of fun.

All proceeds raised at the February 29, 2020 Dance Through the Decades event will go to support the needs of our LGBTQ+ youth.

You must be 21 years old to attend.

International Pronouns Day

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International Pronouns Day

We endorse International Pronouns Day, which seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities. We encourage colleges, schools, workplaces, and local organizations to hold educational and empowering events on International Pronouns Day. #PronounsDay

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LGBT Center program updates

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A message from the LGBT Center":

We will begin our VOICES (Vision, Opportunity, Inclusivity, Community, Education, Support) drop-in Center group for youth/young adults 14-21 years old on Tuesday, August 27th at 4:30pm - 6:30pm. This group will run weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30pm AND on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays monthly from 11-1pm. This group is facilitated by professional educators and offers a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to learn, grow and evolve into confident, compassionate adults.

  • We have partnered with open&out Chapters at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies - DePuySynthes and are hosting an Informational GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) Summit on Oct. 3rd from 4pm - 7:30pm. We've invited local organizations, businesses and higher learning institutions to join us in providing literature and information about the services available for the LGBTQ+ community, especially youth. At this time, the Summit is open to GSA advisors from Berks County. We encourage each advisor to invite 2 students from each club.

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Flag raising event at City Hall laced with discrimination by the Mayor!

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Yesterday, just before 4:45pm the mood of dozens of people with several City Council Members in front of Reading’s City Hall was jubilant and anxious to witness a historical moment of the PRIDE rainbow flag being raised. Instead minutes later we were told that the Mayor just minutes before notified City officials that the flag raising was not happening because flag represents a political cause. The flag represents a people, a community actively involved and incorporated in the greater community as citizens of Reading and Berks County. We are angry and disappointed that our beloved city and the support that we have received over the past years, has been tainted by a single person, Mayor Wally Scott, who proclaims his administration as one of “Positive Change”. He has been the only Mayor not to attend any Pride during his tenure. Our neighboring city of Lancaster held a similar flag raising just hours before without incident. This to happen on the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the 10th Anniversary of the LGBTQ+ community being added to the ordinance that protects us from discrimination in Reading and 13 years of working with the City for real positive change, is a stain on the Mayor’s legacy.

Last evening we, Reading PRIDE Celebration, held a scheduled meeting to put the final touches on the Festival and the need for additional volunteers for this weekend. Instead the meeting was to address the incident. The General Committee, the governing body of Reading PRIDE Celebration, voted unanimously to file a complaint of discrimination against the Mayor with the Human Rights Commission in City Hall on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community of Reading. It goes to show you, discrimination is still in this day and age, an issue to be dealt with and we will continue to stand firm on the right side of history.

ACTION ALERT: The next City Council Meeting is on Monday, July 22nd at 7pm at City Hall and you are invited to attend to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and bring your rainbow flags. It was City Council that helped arrange for the flag raising.

Ben Renkus, President of Reading PRIDE Celebration

Hybrid support group for parents, youth (7-13) and allies

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The LGBT Center of Greater Reading is excited to announce they have a NEW hybrid support group for parents, youth and allies beginning this week. The meetings will be held every other Wednesday from 6-7:30pm (beginning tomorrow, Wednesday May 1). 

The group will be both educational and activity based for youth ages 7-13 years old that identify as LGBTQ+. The adolescents will have the opportunity to connect with peers that identify similarly. We also encourage youth allies to attend in support of their friends. The group will be professionally facilitated by qualified individuals and closely monitored.

Parents will meet simultaneously discussing the challenges and questions that may arise while raising an LGBTQ+ identified adolescent. This group will be professionally facilitated by Bethany Bower, a licensed social worker.

Art History from a Queer Perspective: Bisexual Poets Hilda Doolittle (H.D.) and Emily Dickinson

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STARTING MONDAY, April 29th - the first class of Series 4 of ART HISTORY FROM A QUEER PERSPECTIVE!!! MONDAYS April 29th through May 20th (note the different day from that last series) Four stand alone free classes in a row, 6pm to 8pm in the Community Room of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.  Open to EVERYONE, FREE, no registration - just walk in, no prior knowledge of Art History necessary, no need to attend every class if your schedule does not permit - each class is stand alone. AND THEMED SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED!!!

Class #1: April 29th, 2019 - Bisexual Poets Hilda Doolittle (H.D.) and Emily Dickinson - (The H.D. part of this class is part of the year-long Finding H.D Project that is being presented in partnership between the Lehigh University English Department, the Bethlehem Area Public Library, Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, and Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.

Class #2: May 6th, 2019 - Queer Art Around the World in the 1600s

Class #3: May 13th, 2019 - Stonewall Era Art, Queer Visibility in the 1960s & 1970s, and Basquiat! - Presented in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion

Class #4: May 20th, 2019 - Tiffany, Beardsley, Loie Fuller, Wilde, and the World of Art Nouveau 

Sit back, view slides, listen, learn about and discuss the lives and work of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer artists. Consider the LGBTQ imagery of mainstream artists in various periods of history. And after the class there is also a social opportunity with themed snacks, to discuss interesting things with old friends, or meet new ones in this exciting free 4 session class at the LGBT Community Center. 

This is a very popular class attended by a diverse and intergenerational group of about 40+ LGBTQA folks per class. It’s fun and funny - a good place to bring old friends, or meet new friends, or bring someone on a nice first date! 

More info

A Good Thyme for Life

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A Good Thyme For Life is the largest fundraising event to benefit Co-County Wellness Services. This annual event is held the first Tuesday in March and in 2019, 
will be held on March 5th.

Choose from a diverse variety of restaurants, book a reservation, and you're on your way to having a fun-filled evening while at the same time raising funds to support Berks County's only organization providing support to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Grand Raffle tickets will be available during the dine out event or from any Co-County Wellness Services board member prior to the event.

Grand Raffle tickets will be available during the dine out event or from any Co-County Wellness Services board member prior to the event.

Tickets may be obtained by calling the CCWS office at 610-375-6523

http://www.goodthymeforlife.org