2014 post-Pride insert by The Philadelphia Gay News

2014 post-Pride souvenir section GALAEI leader pops the question at Pride By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

Last year, Philadelphia Pride brought one local couple together — and this year’s Pride helped take their relationship to the next level. GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Movement executive director Elicia Gonzales proposed to her partner of one year, Megan Hannah, during GALAEI’s parade performance in front of Independence Hall — ultimately stealing the show and coincidentally helping GALAEI win the title of Best Nonprofit at the parade. It was at Pride 2013 when Gonzales, 39, and Hannah, 30, decided to take their long-term

ship was effortless. “The thing we kept saying is, it is weird that this is not weird,” she said. “It was an easy and organic transition.” The pair met several years ago while both were working at Congreso. Hannah said the two hit it off from the start. “We shared similar interests and shared the same beliefs and compassions for the kids we served,” she said. “We had such a great time together just as friends.” Gonzales, however, said she was a bit intimidated by Hannah’s “Philly” tough attitude. “She is like Philly through and through but I soon realized that was for show. She is the kindest,

Record crowds celebrate Pride in Philly

Photo: Scott A. Drake

By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com

ELICIA GONZALES (LEFT) AND MEGAN HANNAH

friendship to the next level. “It was crazy. We both were at Woody’s and we‘ve been there before and have gone out dancing but something was in the air that night,” Gonzales said. Gonzales added that the transition from friendship to relation-

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sweetest person I know,” she said. They remained close over the years, building a foundation of friendship — something Hannah said has helped make their current relationship stronger. “There is just an undeniable chemistry there. We didn’t know it was there for the seven or so years we were friends but Pride last year unleashed it all,” she said. “We have fun together, we can be silly and serious and there are no secrets. What I love about her is she is just a pure soul and down to earth.” Gonzales and Hannah had talked about marriage a few months after their relationship. The conversations evolved into a humorous competition over who would propose first. “In my mind, PAGE 6

Last Sunday’s Pride was one for the history books. Philly Pride Presents executive director Franny Price said more than 16,000 people turned out for the 26th annual Pride festivities, the largest crowd to date. Price said the great weather was just one of a number of factors contributing to this year’s success — including Pennsylvania’s recent marriage-equality victory and headliner The Village People. “With marriage equality in the state, people had even more of a reason to celebrate,” she said.

“But The Village People stole the show. Nobody left until they stopped performing.” Price added that she expects this year’s record success to spill into future Prides. “When people have a good time one year, they remember that for the next year and you keep growing every year.” Price said 147 vendors set up shop at Penn’s Landing, with the organization having reached capacity two weeks before the festival. Philly Pride Presents sold more than 13,000 wristbands for the festival. Before the history-making crowds reached Penn’s Landing, history was made in the parade.

Pride Parade Winners

Bar: ICandy Business: Chipotle Nonprofit group: GALAEI Float: Wells Fargo Vehicle: Philadelphia Fins Female impersonator: Tabu Individual or duet: The Goddess Isis Performance: The Attic Youth Center Public statement: Whosoever Metropolitan Community Church of Philadelphia

Theme: American Civil Liberties Union Marching with music: Flaggots Marching without music: PECO/Exelon Nonprofit (not from Gayborhood): Cheers New York Bar/business (not from Gayborhood): Campbell Soup Float (not from Gayborhood): Prysm Youth Center of Delaware County Spectator favorite: Venture Inn

Three weeks after Pennsylvania legalized same-sex marriage, 12 same-sex couples married in front of the reviewing stand before Independence Hall on Market Street. The couples were joined by out Court of Common Pleas Judges Dan Anders and Ann Butchart. Price said the weddings were one of the day’s highlights. “It’s something that I will remember for the rest of my life because it was done so tastefully and beautifully,” she said. “It made you want to get married. You could see the tears coming down, not only from those who were getting married but also from spectators. You could hear a PAGE 3

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 13-19, 2014

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Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com June 13-19, 2014

Dozen couples wed at Pride By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com This marked the first Philadelphia Pride at which marriage equality was legal in Pennsylvania, and organizers decided to celebrate that freedom in front of the birthplace of the nation’s freedom. Philly Pride Presents hosted a mass wedding ceremony in front of Independence Hall June 8, offi-

ANTHONY PURNELL AND RAY ROBINSON Photos: Scott A. Drake

ciated by out Court of Common Pleas Judges Dan Anders and Ann Butchart. Twelve couples tied the knot, among them Philadelphia residents Anthony Purnell and Ray Robinson. The couple, together for about nine months, had plans to marry in Maryland but decided to wait once they heard a Pennsylvania decision was forthcoming. After the decision, they jumped at the opportunity to be part of the history-making weddings at Pride — which would mark their first time at the festivity. “The idea of doing it at Pride and in front of all those people was exciting,” Purnell said. “We PRIDE from page 1

pin drop, that is how overwhelming it was. It is something you would see in the movies and it was in front of the most historical spot in the whole country.” Price said there were no reports of antigay protestors and no arrests or other incidents. She said the entertainment line-up — which, along with The Village People, included comedian Lynne Koplitz, Ariana & The Rose, Betty and Well-Strung — was one of the best Pride has

wanted to represent the pride we ing the ceremony. “We had gone into it thinkhave. I had never been to Pride and neither had he so we decided ing this was a personal, legal to do it then; when the Pride coor- step in our relationship, having dinators contacted us, we rushed already married with our family and friends as witnesses years and got our marriage license.” Purnell added that the expe- ago,” O’Brien said. “We realized rience was nerve-wrecking but the gravity of what was transpiring as we stood on Market Street exhilarating. “I was the most nervous I had with these other couples, 30 of our ever been in my life but we were both trying to hide our tears and emotions,” he said. Sharing in that emotion was Elizabeth O’Brien and wife Nichole Prendergast. “It wound up being much more emotional than expected,” O’Brien said. The couple, together ELIZABETH O’BRIEN AND NICHOLE for 15 years, had a comPRENDERGAST mitment ceremony 10 years ago in New Jersey, where they lived at the time, and family and friends that joined us later were joined in a civil union including our two young children in the state. as well as all the Pride parade supNow residents of Philadelphia, porters. It was so nice meeting some of the other couples, hearing their stories. We thought the vows that we exchanged strongly reflected our feelings towards each other.” LaShauna Marie Thomas and April Lea Elissa-Kiah also married, after eight years together. The couple, who met at Rosemont College, had a commitment ceremony in 2012 at the Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. Thomas said she and her wife were honored to be part of the effort, which allowed the 12 couLASHAUNA MARIE THOMAS ples to wed in a unique, yet still AND APRIL LEA ELISSA-KIAH meaningful, way. “ We l ove d i t ,” s h e s a i d . they were considering having a “Weddings can be stressful and it legal marriage in New Jersey to cel- was something we wouldn’t have ebrate their anniversary but were to stress about. It was nice to do holding off in case Pennsylvania something that was laidback. We adopted marriage equality. had our family out there and it was O’Brien said the significance of nice to see everyone supporting the wedding became apparent dur- us.” ■ had in years. “When I was backstage and I looked up, I could see generations of people of all ages singing ‘Macho Man’ and ‘Y.M.C.A.’ To see so many people doing the ‘Y.M.C.A.’ was amazing,” she said. “The Village People are iconic and the energy they had was amazing. I received so many messages from people telling me how happy they were to see them. There was not one empty space — all the walkways were blocked and there were a sea of

people dancing along to their music.” Price said this year’s Pride exceeded expectations on all levels. “I think this has been the best Pride yet,” she said. “When I was at the stage and looked up, I could see people lined up to get in, and there were so many people. There was something at this year’s Pride that everyone was into.” For more information, visit www.phillypride.org. ■

MOMENTOUS MARCH: The 15th annual Philadelphia Dyke March drew its largest crowd yet last Saturday, as LGBTs of all stripes marched through the Gayborhood and down Broad Street demanding equality. Organizers say about 800 people turned out for the event. “By far, it was the largest march we’ve had,” said organizer Kim Gana. “We are so humbled, as well as eager to keep growing each year.”

KINGS AND QUEENS: Jasper Liem (from left), Elizabeth Coffey Williams, Jeff Shablin, Heather Coutts, Eric Ashton and Meg Rider comprised the 2014 Homecoming Court at William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual fundraiser. The festivities were held June 7 at the courtyard at John C. Anderson Apartments, marking the first time the event moved out of the center. William Way executive director Chris Bartlett said the event netted about $20,000 for the center and drew about 200 guests. “It was fantastic,” he said. “I had always wanted to do a garden party and it was the perfect place. It set a magical atmosphere for celebrating gay Pride, the community center and introducing the John C. Anderson Apartments to the community.”

SPRUCED UP: The Attic Youth Center was one of four local organizations honored by youth-focused philanthropic group The Spruce Foundation June 7 at its annual gala, held this year for the first time at Union Transfer. Accepting the honor was The Attic Youth Center’s Alyssa Mutryn (second from left), pictured with girlfriend Shay Orielle and Spruce Foundation co-president J. Rudy Flesher (left) and state Rep. Brian Sims. The Spruce Foundation gave The Attic and the other three beneficiaries a $5,000 grant each. Photos: Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 8-14, 2013

PGN

Philly Pride 2014

Photos: Scott A. Drake

Philadelphia Gay News www.epgn.com Feb. 8-14, 2013

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DANCING IN THE STREETS: 12th Street was packed Friday night with revelers kicking off Pride weekend. The third-annual Pride Kick-Off Block Party, organized by Philly Pride Presents, closed down 12th from Walnut to Spruce for outdoor food and drink, dancing, games and even a mechanical shark, which drew large crowds of partiers trying to test their balance. Photos: Scott A. Drake

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ENGAGEMENT from page 1

I wanted to be the one to ask first and I was getting some beautiful suggestions from people on how to propose but none of them STAGE SUGAR: Miss Venture Inn Iris Specter was one of a sea of seemed to fit us,” Gonzales said. local drag performers to grace the stage at The Candy Shoppe, a June “Then I had the idea that Pride 5 benefit that raised about $300 for Metropolitan Area Neighborhood is our anniversary and we would Nutritional Alliance. Hosted by Brittany Lynn at SugarHouse Casino, �� both be there and GALAEI will the second-annual event drew about 100 audience members, who be walking in the parade. I knew it were treated to performances by about two-dozen drag entertainers. All guests also were given $10 of free play at the casino. would capture her off-guard.” Gonzales said GALAEI coworker Nikki Lopez helped with the planning, and she also got permission from Philly Pride Presents executive director Fanny Price, but few others knew about the surprise proposal until it happened. Despite being prepared, Gonzales said she was still nervous for the moment. “I was surprisingly calm through most of the day but I didn’t start getting nervous until we turned at Seventh and Market streets and my heart started to race because I could feel the moment coming,” she said. “When I got down on one knee, I was trembling and afterwards Megan commented on how shaky my hands were and that she had never seen me like that before. But the excitement overshadowed the nervousness.” Hannah said Gonzales pulled the surprise off. “I was elated,” added Hannah. “We talked about it for a while and PARTYING WITH PRIDE: Patience (from left), Morgan, Timaree, Amber and Sara welcomed partiers to we went back and forth to see who the Stimulus after-party for the Dyke March and Homecoming June 7 at Voyeur. The party offered discount got to be the first one. Obviously admission to guests who participated in the march and the Homecoming festivity. This marked Stimulus’ she takes the win for this one.” last party at Voyeur until September. Hannah said the proposal’s tim-

ing could not be any better, coinciding with their anniversary and the recent victory for marriage equality in Pennsylvania. “All of those things put together make it a magical moment,” she said. “We were pumped up for the weekend in general because it is our one-year anniversary together and with love winning obviously it is great because our marriage can be official and we don’t have to put any other names on it.” Gonzales has, however, jokingly started referring to Hannah as her “booyance” — due to the pair’s knack for calling each other their “boos.” The couple said friends and family have been joyous about the engagement. They haven’t set a date but know they want to get married on the beach. Gonzales said the thrill of their Pride engagement embodies who the couple is, and the future they plan to have together. “Megan isn’t someone who tries to change who I am or censor me or take some of the zest out. She encourages me to be me. We have the same philosophy about living life to the fullest. We are always having adventures and being silly and goofy,” she said. “Once you are looking at the world in the same view, it seems less scary and more clear. With her, there is nothing we can’t do or achieve and it doesn’t have to be hard to be real. It is just simple and enjoyable and we are simple with each other.” ■

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