Out Montclair Pride inaugural event has a star studded entertainment schedule
Emmy award-winning comedian and Essex County native Judy Gold will emcee the inaugural Montclair Pride festivities on June 11, 2022 from the main stage. The festival will also feature a special performance by Montclair local and Broadway legend, Laura Benanti.
The all day event includes an appearance by trans activist, supermodel and New Jersey native Carmen Carrera, Maplewood native Randi Driscoll performing “What Matters,” the official tribute song to the late Matthew Shepard, out pro baseball player and country singer Bryan Ruby, and the artist J-Line.
Other performers include the recent Broadway cast of Jagged Little Pill, Dyllón Burnside from Pose, as well as Felipe Rose, original member of The Village People leading the crowd in singing “YMCA.” Black Trans activist Miss Peppermint, best known from RuPaul’s Drag Race, will perform a set too.
Out Montclair is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization established in 2021 to provide community, support, and solidarity for the LGBTQ community and will host the inaugural Montclair Pride festival on Saturday, June 11th, 2022.
The festival main stage is on Bloomfield Avenue between Church and Park in downtown Montclair. Pride will open with a ribbon-cutting by local officials and a kick off by School of Rock. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., State Senator Nia Gill, Montclair Council Member Peter Yacobellis (also Out Montclair’s President), and Mayor Sean Spiller are among the local elected officials who will rally the crowd.
Later that evening, Betty Who is the featured musical artist at the Montclair Pride Concert at the Wellmont Theater with Fab the Duo. Tickets for that event are on sale now.
“I’m beyond excited about each of these individuals and the many others who we’ll announce in the future. Each of them, with many from right here in the Garden State, have incredible stories and have contributed so meaningfully to the broader movement for justice and equality in this country.”, said Out Montclair President Peter Yacobellis. “Through remarks and performance, I’m excited to have all of this talent reinforcing our theme of ‘Be You. Be Heard.’ and joining LGBTQIA+ people and our allies from all around the region.”
“Where else but Montclair would a 6-foot-3 Jewish lesbian from Newark be the star of this historic occasion,” Judy Gold joked. “There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than with my New Jersey family in this gay Mayberry, celebrating Pride with everyone in the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. Montclair, you’re gorgeous and you know it and I love you anyway. See you in June.”
The public is encouraged to express their interest in attending through the Facebook event page located here.
The Montclair Pride festival will provide a celebration filled with art, culture, food, music and live performances. Find out more at Montclair Pride.
