The following is from North Jersey Pride:
North Jersey Pride, the nonprofit dedicated to promoting equality, acceptance, and respect for LGBTQ youth and families in the upper Garden State, returns to Memorial Park in Maplewood on Sunday, June 14 from noon-6 p.m.
The festival will feature an outstanding lineup of local and national talent, featuring singer/songwriter and star of TV One’s R&B Divas Monifah, and finalist and runner-up on NBC’s The Voice and former lead singer for Ella Riot, Michelle Chamuel. Scott Nevins, host of Bravo TV’s The People’s Couch will emcee the day.
The afternoon will also feature up-and-coming artists including fresh new musical talent RANGE, the a cappella group that most recently performed at the 2015 Oscars on E! Live from the Red Carpet; pop/R&B artist and two-time Apollo winner Queen Ella; acoustic folk-pop duo and Maplewood natives Hannah & Maggie; the award-winning Paper Mill Show Choir; The Swippers; the much-loved Front & Center Showtime Choir performing a medley from the musical Hair; Rainere Martin’s Tribute to Donna Summers; the Paper Mill Show Chorus; and more.
“Since we began, North Jersey Pride has been welcomed so warmly by the Township of Maplewood and our progressive North Jersey communities,” says executive director C.J. Prince, who notes attendance at the Festival has grown 400% year-over-year. “We are so excited to continue our tradition of bringing LGBTQ and straight ally attendees together in support of equality, acceptance and respect, particularly for LGBTQ youth, who so desperately need us to stand up for them.”
In keeping with its “Pride with a Purpose” mission, North Jersey Pride will also present several awards at this year’s Festival. The Outstanding Ally Award will be presented by 2014 recipients, Jane and Joe Clementi of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, to Hudson Taylor, CEO and founder of Athlete Ally, an organization activating athletes to support LGBT inclusion and equality. The NJP Appreciation Award will be given to the LGBT RAIN Foundation, which runs North Jersey’s only homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth, in Orange, NJ. North Jersey Pride will also give out its first NJP scholarship award to Russell Pinzino, a senior at Columbia High School who has volunteered with North Jersey Pride and been a featured speaker/panelist at NJP’s Stand UP Speak OUT school assemblies.
“By recognizing those who have made a difference in our community, we hope to inspire many more to get active on behalf of LGBTQ youth and families in New Jersey,” said Prince.
The Festival follows an evening of celebration at the Dance for Equality fundraiser at the Club at Orange Lawn. Tickets will be available at the door starting at 8pm. All tickets are 80% tax-deductible and support North Jersey Pride’s Pride Week and Festival.
