Jersey LGBTQ Pride moving to October due to COVID-19 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Jersey Pride has been postponed. The Board of Jersey Pride Inc. decided today that the annual LGBTQ Pride Parade, Rally and Festival in Asbury Park that was scheduled for Sunday, June 7 will be moving this year to Sunday, October 11, 2020. The event, which traditionally kicks off Pride month in the Garden State, will now be held this fall on National Coming Out Day.

Jersey Pride began producing the Pride celebration in 1992 to create a safe space for the LGBTQ community to congregate and celebrate. The decision as to how to proceed in light of the pandemic was informed by that safe space mandate.  After several weeks spent carefully monitoring Governor Phil Murphy’s directives and tracking projections of the virus in the state, and communicating with the host city of Asbury Park, Jersey Pride concluded that it could not responsibly plan for or hold the annual Pride event on June 7.

Laura Pople, president of JPI explained “we elected to postpone pride, rather than cancel it outright, believing that by doing so we offer a message of hope to the LGBTQ community: we will come out from the pandemic, and we will once again come together—joyfully, fabulously, in celebration of pride.”

Jersey Pride produces one of the few LGBTQ Pride events held by the ocean. This year’s special Autumn celebration will be no different on October 11. JPI stressed that it will be a safe event full of love and rainbows.

This Annual Pride will still include all the usual features. There will be the parade through Asbury Park, a day-long performance stage, and a festival with hundreds of vendors, organizations, child-friendly activities, and a food court. The fall festivities are expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees.

“Jersey Pride is a signature event in Asbury Park whenever it’s held,” said Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn. “We are looking forward to marching in the parade in October.”

“Bank of America remains committed to the event and looks forward to celebrating in October,” said Alberto Garofalo Bank of America New Jersey Market President. Jersey Pride’s title sponsor is Bank of America.

National Coming Out Day was first celebrated on October 11 in 1988 to commemorate the Equality March on Washington the year before.

For more information, to volunteer, or to sponsor the event, please contact JPI at info@jerseypride.org. To participate as a vendor or a marching contingent, visit jerseypride.org. Information for registering for Jersey Pride on October 11, 2020 will be posted shortly.