Niagara Falls, NY – Pride month in WNY isn’t complete until you join Niagara Pride and Old Falls Street for Rainbow City Pride 2023 on June 24, 2023! This event has something for everyone, and organizers encourage all of WNY to come check it out. What better way to celebrate Pride than in the presence of the majestic Niagara Falls and come see why this treasure gave Niagara Falls the nickname of “Rainbow City!”

***Schedule of Events for Rainbow City Pride:***

11am to 12pm – Pride Interfaith Service: Niagara Pride will be hosting a Pride focused interfaith service as part of Rainbow City Pride. Clergy and spiritual leaders from various denominations will be on hand to deliver the service and will be available to answer questions about their places of worships and the work they are doing to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community. The Interfaith Service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 140 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14303. (https://fb.me/e/MhKDCBVF)

12pm to 5pm – Rainbow City Pride Steet Festival on Old Falls St.: Pride comes back to Niagara Falls once again with an exciting lineup of performers, which include Jayme Coxx, DivasWho, and the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus. Organizers are thrilled that the Justice League of WNY will be on hand for photo-ops with your favorite superheroes.

Featured guest speakers include Kitty Lambert-Rudd, Ari Moore, and Jordan James.

Kitty Lambert-Rudd is an LGBTQ+ rights activist and president of (and was involved in the founding of) OUTspoken for Equality, an LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit in the Western New York area, and as such was instrumental in convincing the New York State legislature to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2011 Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in New York; their ceremony was in Niagara Falls State Park.

Ari Moore is Buffalo’s first prominently out Black trans woman artist and has established herself as a leader and matriarch of the local movement for decades. After studying at the University of Buffalo and Daemen College, Moore has served an art instructor at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Langston Hughes Institute Center. She was one of the first artists to show at Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival. Moore owned and operated the Inner City Art Studio before joining the Buffalo Police Department, where she served as an officer for twenty-five years before retiring.

Jordan James is an inspiring LGBTQ+ advocate, known for founding “Blood is Blood” and serving as a resilient role model. Through his unwavering dedication, he successfully challenged discriminatory blood donation policies, saving over 1,000 lives and bringing an end to a 30+ year discriminatory policy. As an openly gay TV host and producer, he shattered barriers and demonstrated the power of determination and perseverance in achieving one’s dreams.

The following vendors will be on hand as well: 2Gray Cats; Aquarium of Niagara; GLYS; Dig Your Engrave; Destination Niagara; DivasWho; embraceWNY; JB’s Bake Shop; Fresh Off the Brush Studios; The Burning Candle Gift Emporium; Pastel Pride Witch; Buffalo Body Sex; and Niagara County Department of Health – Sexual Wellness Clinic.

And if that’s not enough…unicorn drawn carriage rides! The best part…it’s all free of charge!

**Times for events happening at the festival:**

12pm-12:30pm: Drag Queen Performances by DivasWho

12:30pm-1pm: Ronald Piaseczny and Mayor Restaino will deliver opening remarks

1pm-1:30pm: The Buffalo Gay Mens Chorus will perform

1:30pm-2pm: Drag Queen Performances by DivasWho

2pm-2:15pm: Kitty Lambert will speak

2:15pm-2:30pm: Jordan James will speak

2:30pm-2:45pm: Ari Moore will speak

2:45pm-3pm: DJ Remmz

3pm-3:30pm: Drag Queen Performances by DivasWho

3:30pm-4:15pm: DJ Remmz

4:15pm-4:45pm: Drag Queen Performances by DivasWho

4:45pm-5pm: Closing Remarks from Ronald Piaseczny / DJ Remmz

5pm to 12am – Rainbow City Pride After Party: The fun doesn’t stop once the Rainbow City Pride Street Festival is over! Join Niagara Pride at the Rainbow City After Party immediately following the festival either at The Gold Bar (435 3rd St, Niagara Falls, NY) or at The Archives Pub (439 3rd St, Niagara Falls, NY)! The After Party is also a fundraiser for Niagara Pride. (https://fb.me/e/1bLjZMg7H)

8pm – Rainbow City Pride Drag After Party – Join Daredevil Records as they host drag sensation, Claire Voyant for this incredible event. Donations will be collected to benefit Niagara Pride, Inc. (https://fb.me/e/5FqYtirzd?mibextid=RQdjqZ)

10pm to 10:30pm – Niagara Falls Illumination: Once the sun sets, the Falls will come to life as they are illuminated in the transgender colors (10pm to 10:15pm) and then the Pride Rainbow (10:15pm to 10:30pm) that evening. In honor of Pride Month, Niagara Falls State Park is also illuminating the falls in Pride colors all week, starting June 23, 2023 and culminating on June 30, when the Falls will be illuminated every top of the hour for 15 minutes in the Pride colors. For more information on the times the Pride colors will be on the Falls during that week, go to www.niagaraparks.com/events/event/falls-illumination

10pm – Fireworks Over the Falls: No Pride is complete without a breathtaking fireworks display, and Rainbow City Pride is no exception! As part of 2023 Niagara Falls Summer Fireworks Series, there will be a spectacular fireworks show with stunning views of the Falls. For more information, go to www.niagarafallstourism.com/fireworks

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Niagara Pride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Niagara County and WNY. They offer educational programming, engage in charitable works, and offer social programming to create a safe and welcoming environment for all those who identify as LGBTQQI+ living throughout WNY. They rely primarily on donations to provide these services and have no paid staff…only volunteers. Some of the services Niagara Pride offers include:

•Know Your Status campaign to help provide sexual health and wellness materials for free to individuals as well as share information about HIV and STI testing in all 8 counties of WNY (www.knowyourstatus.niagarapride.org)

•The Jean Hopkins Memorial Scholarship for LGBTQ+ high school seniors pursuing higher education.

•Diversity and Inclusion Trainings – Niagara Pride offers trainings to local businesses, agencies, and organizations for a nominal fee.

•Monthly LGBTQ+ Social Meet Ups

•During Pride month, host WNY Shopping with Pride to promote locally owned LGBTQ+ and ally businesses, the WNY Pride 5k, Newfane Pride, and Rainbow City Pride

•And in partnership with other agencies, Niagara Pride has been able to offer groups/services for addictions, general support, and housing discrimination assistance.

For more information about Niagara Pride and their services/events, check out their website at www.niagarapride.org, email them at info@niagarapride.org, for check them out on Facebook (Niagara Pride (serving all of WNY)).