BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A steady drizzle couldn't dampen the mood at the second annual Greenway Pride festival Saturday afternoon.
Drag queens, rainbow flags and pride t-shirts mixed with an abundance of pets, cornhole and free snacks to set a mellow vibe and welcoming atmosphere on the Greenway. A steady crowd of about 100 people flowed through the event, perusing the tents of about a dozen vendors offering everything from board games to information about mental health services.
Mike Pipestone, a volunteer at the event, said the relaxed atmosphere was no accident. As a nation, the United States isn't doing a good enough job to address mental health and preventive health care; the problem is even worse among members of the LGBT community compared to the general population, he said.
Organizers made a deliberate effort to create a setting where people would be comfortable to mingle with friends, meet new people and learn about resources available in the community, he said. Establishing a low-key event where people can build positive relationships may not be the most ambitious endeavor, but it can make a real difference for people feeling isolated.
“I think it's important to celebrate good things,” Pipestone said as he allowed passersby to pet Marx, his rainbow-dyed dog.
Several attendees lauded the event and wished the region's LGBT community had more dedicated spaces. Aside from the Bradbury-Sullivan Center and Vogue, an Allentown gay bar, it can be hard to socialize and meet people within the LGBT community. Mark Wertman, a Hanover Township, Northampton County resident, said events often float around and that catching one can come down to knowing the right people.
"When you have these public displays, it helps you know you're not alone."Simon Ortega on he welcoming atmosphere at the second annual Greenway Pride event.
“It's kind of underground,” Wertman said of the Lehigh Valley's gay social scene. “People around here know about it, but they don't know it.”
Ash Weissman and Sally Schwab were in their Lehigh Valley Rugby Football Club uniforms looking to recruit people to its teams. Weissman, a newcomer to the area, said they had struggled to find places where gay people mingled until they happened upon the club. It welcomes people of all talents, backgrounds, gender identities and body types, Weissman and Schwab said.
“There's not really a ton of places for the community to gather. [The club] has been a great way for me to meet mentors and friends,” Weissman said.
Simon Ortega and Amaya Bernard made the trip from Stroudsburg to spend the day with friends on the Greenway. Between admiring the many cats and dogs on hand and teasing her friends, Bernard, 22, said her generation is looking to be more forward-facing about their identity and having places where they can openly be themselves. Ortega agreed, saying the region could use more events like Greenway Pride.
“When you have these public displays, it helps you know you're not alone,” Ortega said.
