Pride Month in WNY wraps up with 'Niagara Falls Pride: A Family Fun Day'

Niagara Pride is hosting “Niagara Falls Pride: A Family Fun Day” on Saturday, June 25. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of its offices and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 140 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls.

This free community-based event will feature several informational service provider vendors and some merchants, too. The Justice League of WNY will be in superhero costumes for photo ops with kids (and those who identify as kids at heart). The Niagara County SPCA will have animals onsite that are available for adoption.

Martinsville Soapworks and One Hope will also be selling items. A portion of sales will be directly donated to the Jean Hopkins Memorial Scholarship, which is aimed primarily at benefiting LGBTQ+ young adults, and allies, who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing social justice, reducing inequities, and increasing the overall health of their community.

The Jean Hopkins Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Hopkins, a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. A press release noted, “Jean devoted her life to helping other people, from helping her friends and relatives with projects around their houses, to being active in church and community activities, to working with several LGBTQ+ organizations.”

In addition to the lawn games and music, an interfaith/multidenominational Pride service will be held from 11 a.m. to noon at St. Peters’ Episcopal. This years’ service features Rev. Helen Harper of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Rev. Paul Werner of St. James United Church of Christ, Rev. Sue Frawley of Unitarian Universalist Church of Hamburg, Chaplain Mike Keicher of Friends Actively Involved through Him, Rev. Cathy Riely-Goddard of First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Laura Norris Buisch of Riverside Presbyterian, and Rev. Timothy Anas of Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

Niagara Pride has been hosting two events that will conclude on June 30: the WNY Pride 5K and “WNY Shopping With Pride.” The 5K is a virtual event that can be done anytime throughout the month. Participants get a T-shirt and a medal. Registration is $45 at www.wnypride5k.org. “WNY Shopping With Pride” highlights locally owned LGBTQ+ and ally businesses. Business participating or information for registering is available on www.wnyshoppingwithpride.org.

Niagara Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Niagara County and WNY. It offers educational programming, engages in charitable works, and offers social programming to create safe and welcoming environment for all those who identify as LGBTQQI+ living throughout WNY. It relies primarily on donations to provide these services, and has no paid staff – only volunteers.

For more information about Niagara Pride, visit www.niagarapride.org, email [email protected], or visit on Facebook.