NEPA Rainbow Alliance

Happy Pride Month!! We kick off this morning at the Scranton June Pride Flag Raising. Follow our page for details on events and activities throughout June. Please SHARE!

Thank you to our 2021 NEPA Pridefest Entertainment Sponsor: Geisinger! Learn more about this year's Pridefest theme "Live Out Proud", where to attend one of our Watch Parties or how to watch LIVE on our Facebook Page, and all of this year's sponsors at neparainbowalliance.org/pridefest/

The NEPA Rainbow Alliance is proud to announce the relaunch of an active Trans Social Discussion Group! Please join us via Zoom on Wed., June 16 at 7PM to learn all the details. Register in advance!

Thank you to our 2021 NEPA Pridefest Presenting Sponsor: The Wright Center for Community Health! Learn more about this year's Pridefest theme "Live Out Proud", where to attend one of our four Watch Parties or how to watch LIVE on our Facebook Page, and view all of this year's sponsors at neparainbowalliance.org/pridefest/

The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center raised the Pride flag in honor of Pride month for the first time ever this morning. This is thanks to efforts within their organization led by Nicole Hall, EEO Special Emphasis Program Manager, LGBTQ+. We are proud to celebrate this moment in support of our LGBTQ+ veterans. We see you. We love you

This morning’s flag raising at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is outside the community living center. You can park at the chapel entrance parking lot

Please join us for our info session about the relaunch of our Trans Social Discussion Group tonight, Wed., June 16 at 7PM. DM us for the link to register! The NEPA Rainbow Alliance is proud to invite our local trans community to join us for the relaunch of our Trans Social Discussion Group. During this information session, you'll hear from Dee Culp, Community Leader/Moderator, and Kira Kinsman, Co-Moderator, about the format for the bi-weekly discussion meetings that will off...icially begin in July via Zoom on Wednesday, July 7 at 7PM. You'll also hear from Corinne Goodwin, Executive Director of Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, who will share about the many resources available to trans folk in the Wyoming Valley through her organization. #RainbowAlliance #LGBT #PrideMonth #Transgender #Discussion #InfoSession #DiscoverNEPA #Support

Meet Dr. Vicki T. Sapp, Board Member and Co-Chair of our Education and Advocacy Committee. By day, Dr. Vicki serves as the Student Affairs Director for Student Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion as well as an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Here is her Why: I am not always perfect. I do not always get it correct. However, I am humbled, willing, and open to being a life-long learner. The more I learn the more I lean in, speak up, and provide advocacy when tapped in to be an Ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Meet Samuel O’Connell, Board Member and Co-Chair of our Marketing Committee. By day, Sam serves as the Creative Director of Coal Creative. Here is his Why: As a young person, one of the most important people in my life came out to me. At the time, I did not have the knowledge or resources to properly support them. As an ally, I want to work to ensure that there are quality educational resources available, that there are opportunities to support each other and that we all as a community can advocate for a better, safer, more equitable future.

TONIGHT at 8PM: Worldwide Dojo on IWTV is streaming a watch party with Edith Surreal - Join in and #AskEdie your questions on Twitter. "The Life of..." is a new series that gives independent pro wrestlers a camera to film their daily lives. This month's episode features Edith Surreal, the inaugural Cassandro Cup winner, as she takes you behind the scenes of what her life is like as a trans pro wrestler. Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=lRXUwK4Mogc To watch the episode (available now), sign up at http://IWTV.Live using promo code RAINBOW and a portion of your subscription will be donated to the NEPA Rainbow Alliance. Learn more about Edith and support her directly at edithsurreal.com.

On Tuesday, June 15, we're excited to join NEPA Creative for their monthly Creative Meetup | June 2021 in celebration of LGBTQ+ Creatives in honor of Pride Month! Their free monthly series promotes collaboration, brainstorming, and sheer moral support for creatives in NEPA. This month's meetup at Kirby Park will feature three breakout sessions. Next up is Nikki who will be leading a session on abstract painting (supplies will be provided). Read more below:

Thanks so much to Susan from The Front Porch Bake Shop and Nicole from Coiffure Studio for hosting Pride Day in support of the NEPA Rainbow Alliance. Together they raised $1,000 to support our organization!! In addition to raising these meaningful funds, they also created a community event that encouraged everyone to Live Out Proud. We’re full with joy and rainbow macarons and it’ll be hard to miss the rainbow hair extensions all over town. We encourage everyone to Like their pages and follow them on social media

Meet the Judges for Tonight's 2021 Ms. and Mr. NEPA PrideFest Pageant streaming Live on our Facebook page starting at 7PM. From top left to bottom right, the judges are Craig Lukatch, Board Member; Donovan Singleton, Ms. NEPA PrideFest 2014; Anne Wolfe, Mr. NEPA PrideFest 2015; Lori Prashker-Thomas, Special Events Committee Member; and Mia Ho Moore, Miss Gay Pennsylvania United States 2020 #Pride #PrideFest #Pageant #Drag #Competition #LGBTQ #PrideMonth #DiscoverNEPA

Today, check out all the delicious treats prepared at The Front Porch Bake Shop to celebrate Pride Day and get Rainbow Hair Extensions courtesy of Coiffure Studio!!

Tomorrow night, contestants will battle it out to win these beautiful crowns, courtesy of Fierce Drag Jewels ! Make sure to tune in!

We're grateful to Ryan Leckey and WNEP-TV for the opportunity to celebrate and recognize Pride month this morning. Please join us tomorrow night for the 2021 Ms. and Mr. NEPA PrideFest Pageant and then again on Sunday, June 27 for 2021 NEPA PrideFest: Live Out Proud. And don't miss out on our other Pride Month Activities scheduled around those events throughout June!

Meet Holly K. Pilcavage, Board Member and Co-Chair of our Marketing Committee. Holly serves as the President & CEO of local creative agency Coal Creative. Here is her Why: "I envision an inclusive future in the Wyoming Valley (and beyond!) and the Rainbow Alliance is an organization making incredible strides to ensure that is possible. I am personally fueled by the organization, finding new waves of support I never knew truly existed in our valley. It is my personal mission to help others show up as their authentic selves, without fear, and surrounded by genuine support and I believe the Rainbow Alliance stands for all of that and so much more!

Behind the scenes with Ryan Leckey and WNEP-TV this morning ahead of 2021 Ms. and Mr. NEPA PrideFest Pageant tomorrow night and 2021 NEPA PrideFest on Sunday, June 27

We enjoyed speaking with Ryan Leckey on WNEP-TV this morning!! JC says it best. Grateful for everyone who came out to support or watched at home

In celebration of National Coming Out Day, the NEPA Rainbow Alliance in partnership with Coal Creative is proud to produce NEPA Coming Out: Let’s Talk About It, a video featuring conversations on a variety of topics including coming out, history, family, acceptance, religion, and the future. We invite you to sit down with us and join in the conversation.

While the holidays can be an enjoyable time connecting with your loved ones, it also can be challenging for those who plan to come out as LGBTQA+. With that in mind, we are so excited to share our new Coming Out in the Wyoming Valley resource page, developed in partnership with Juicy with Jake and made possible by our friends at Coal Creative. If you or someone you know is in need of support and resources while coming out, please refer them to our page: https://neparainbowalliance.org/comingout/

'Tis the season of giving and what better gift than kindness? Be Kind signs are still available at no cost to you! Courtesy of Coal Creative, the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, and the NEPA Pride Project, signs are available for pickup at the front desk of the Osterhout Free Library, 71 S Franklin St, Wilkes-Barre, during normal business hours which are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We thank you for helping to spread kindness not only during the holiday but every day of the year. We wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season!

Each year on World AIDS Day (December 1) we take time to reflect upon our worldwide response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by remembering the millions we’ve lost over the past four decades, celebrating our achievements over the past year, and pledging to work in even more inclusive and innovative ways over the coming year. This year's World AIDS Day theme is Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact." The theme set by the United States Government reminds us of all we c...an achieve together when we focus on impact by using data to deliver high quality, people-centered HIV prevention and treatment services to those most in need, tackling stigma and discrimination, and empowering communities. In our community, NEPA Regional HIV Services, in collaboration with partner agencies, serve as strong and supportive organizations by offering individualized services to assist people living with HIV/AIDS, lead productive, healthy lifestyles. They offer a variety of assistance to people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS including FREE testing that is available to check for exposure to the virus causing HIV. For more information, contact any of the listed agencies below or please call 570-829-6711 extension 1232 to learn more about local services, free testing, and discovering ways to live a healthier life. Northest Pennsylvania Regional HIV Services http://northeastpahiv.org/ NEPA Red Ribbon Alliance https://www.neparedribbon.org/ Caring Communities www.caringcommunitiespa.org 67 Public Square, Suite 508 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 570-829-2700 20 North Laurel Street Hazleton, PA 18201 570-454-2700 8 Silk Mill Drive, Suite 212 Hawley, PA 18428 570-829-2700 The Wright Center www.thewrightcenter.org 501 S. Washington Avenue Scranton, PA, 18505 570-343-2383 Wyoming Valley Aids Council www.wvacinc.org 330 Bowman Street, Unit #1 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 570-823-5808 1710 East Broad Street Hazleton, PA 18201 570-459-6030 The Warner Complex 1 Kim Ave, Suite 2 Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at the NEPA Rainbow Alliance

We want to share this personal message from Peppermint on behalf of Pennsylvania Youth Congress. Listen and be inspired #KeystoneStrong

Our friend Nikki Berlew is organizing a Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil this evening at 6pm on Wilkes-Barre Public Square. As noted in the event, "Luzerne County is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. With that in mind, masks are REQUIRED. Social distancing is required. With COVID concerns and the weather, this won't last too long to keep everyone safe." Those attending are also encouraged to bring some candles and flashlights. Please message Nikki if you are interested in speaking.