The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to welcome more than twenty LGBTQ advocacy and ally organizations to the first Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic, celebrating marriage equality in New Jersey, this Saturday, September 16 at Rahway River Park in Rahway from Noon until 5:00 p.m.
“All families are invited to join LGBTQ family equality advocates and allies from all over the Garden State in the park on Saturday to celebrate the strength of our diversity and to honor the great strides we’ve made in the movement for equality,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.
LGBTQ family and marriage equality advocacy and ally organizations will be set up on site all day with general information, as well as support and networking resources. Some of the advocacy and ally organizations registered for the event include:
CASA of Union County, Inc.
Human Rights Campaign (Greater NY / New Jersey)
Hyacinth AIDS Foundation
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency
Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, & Southern NJ
Prevention Links
Rahway Family Success
Social Justice Matters, Inc.
Union County College Gay Straight Alliance
Union County Office on Women
Union County Sheriff’s Office
Union County Youth Services
WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
YWCA Union County
A celebration of all families, the free Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will include arts and crafts (featuring a “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making station), inflatable bounce houses for all ages, face painting, music and much more.
The Family Equality Rally will kick off at 1:00 P.M. with special guest speakers as well as powerful renditions of songs that celebrate unity and equality by the voices of Union County’s own Mystic Vision Players. Speakers include local elected officials as well as representatives from the State of New Jersey Division of Children Protection and Permanency, Union County College’s Gay Straight Alliance, and Human Rights Campaign (Greater NY / New Jersey). Parents and children are encouraged to show family Pride with a sign or banner.
Esteemed children’s music band, Michael and the Rockness Monsters will join in the day’s celebration with a live family concert starting at 2:30 P.M.
Family field day team games will kick off at 3:30 P.M. Families and individuals of all ages (adults, teens, and children are all welcome) interested in participating in the field day competition should register online at ucnj.org/Pride so that teams can be formed.
Families are invited to pack a bag lunch and head out to the park with blankets and lawn chairs for an afternoon of fun. Food trucks will also be on site for those who wish to purchase lunch.
In the event of inclement weather the Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, Warinanco Park in Elizabeth/Roselle.
The Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders with additional support from WellCare Health Plans, Inc., Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar (North Plainfield), CASA of Union County, PepsiCo (Piscataway), ShopRite (Clark), Sam’s Club, Smarties Candy Company, Hillside Candy, and Fusion D’Lite (Garwood).
For more information visit ucnj.org/Pride, or find the Union County Family PRIDE CommUNITY Picnic event page at Facebook.com/CountyOfUnion, or call the Union County Office of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900.