Pride Fest 2001: Is Harrisburg Coming Out? by Karla Vierthaler The 11th Annual Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania is set to take place July 28 at the South Riverfront Park. This year’s Fest is focused on “embracing diversity,” and features a day packed with family-oriented entertainment. The annual Pride Fest has been the topic of some contention in past years, and the strides the event has taken to be held at the Riverfront Park are monumental. Religious protesters are a staple at Harrisburg’s pride festivities, but a decreasing number are showing up each year. Pride Fests across the country have historically been places for people to come out to their community. This year, Harrisburg’s festivities invite people to “come out, come out, wherever you are,” but the media policy of picture taking remains firmly in place. Media must have participant’s permission to take their picture, and it reads in bold in the official Pride Guide, “the privacy of all attendees must be respected.” “There are a lot of people that are not out,” explains Michael Grabauskas, media consultant for the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Harrisburg. There is the fear of losing one’s job, being ostracized from one’s family, and even the treat of violence from those who do not approve of same-sex relations. Although none have occurred recently, Grabauskas says he has heard of violence towards gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals occurring in the city. The media rule is in place, according to Grabauskas, to protect those who wish to celebrate diversity, but do not declare their sexual orientation to the world. “People are afraid of what may happen,” he says. So what is the goal of the Pride Festival? Despite the connotation of activism, the Harrisburg’s event is a celebration rather than a statement. People are invited to puruse the tables set up for AIDS Awareness and Voter Registration, but the event is basically a “celebration and music festival.” “We want to be a bigger part of the community,” says Grabauskas. Although the majority of attendees are expected to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, Grabauskas says he expects 10 to 15 percent of the crowd to be heterosexual. “Pride Fest is open to everyone,” he commented. “This year our goal is to become a bigger part of the community, not just a bigger part of the gay community.” Grabauskas says he has received much positive feedback on Pride Fest. He has been able to get many sponsorships and donations from local business, as well as being allowed to hang signs announcing the event in store windows. “I think things are changing.” For more information, visit harrisburgpride.org.