In honor of Pride month, the Union County Board of County Commissioners invites all residents to their annual Pride Month flag raising on Monday, June 3rd at 12:30 p.m. on the front steps of the Union County Courthouse, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.
“Union County is proud to stand with our LGBTQ+ community,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “I am honored to celebrate Pride Month with the raising of this flag, reminding us all that everyone deserves respect, love, and equal rights. Together, we can build a community where everyone is valued and celebrated for who they are.”
Keynote speakers include Adaryll Moore, an LGBTQ advocate and award-winning published author, and Bernie Wagenblast, a Cranford native and transportation journalist who voices announcements for various transportation facilities, including the voice on the New York City Subway. The National Anthem will be performed by Natalia Ocampo from the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy in Elizabeth, and the program will conclude with Stefano Cotugno performing “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman as the flag is raised.
In addition to the Pride Flag raising on June 3rd, Union County is also hosting a 5K Color Run on Saturday, June 8th at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Check-in opens up at 8:00am. The 5K kicks off at 9:00am, followed by the non-competitive Fun Run at 9:15am. Registration information can be found on http://www.ucnj.org/lgbtq.
The Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs was established in 2018 under the Department of Economic Development, and provides a leadership and collaboration platform to support equality and action on issues affecting LGBTQ+ individuals. For more information about the Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs, please visit http://www.ucnj.org/lgbtq. For any questions about Pride Month events, please contact Robert Charkowsky, LGBTQ Affairs Coordinator for the County of Union at rcharkowsky@ucnj.org.