Every June, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates across the U.S. to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that happened in June of 1969 in Manhattan, N.Y. In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first "March on Washington" in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month. You can read more in the Library of Congress.

The original idea for the Pride march originated from the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO). The group had been organizing a July 4th demonstration called “Remember Day Pickets” at Independence Hall in Philly. There were an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 participants at the First Pride in New York City, N.Y. Today, the number has grown to millions and continues to grow each year with members of the community and allies.

Happening in the Area

2026 Lititz Pride Festival: June 6

• Time: 11:00am – 6:00pm
• Location: 727 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz
• Website
• Description: Experience the Lititz Pride Festival with its talented musicians, performers, and numerous vendors. Celebrate Pride and the beautiful diversity that Lititz offers. This free, family-friendly event will feature a wide range of kid-friendly activities, community-focused programming, and LGBTQ+-affirming vendors—creating an inclusive space where all generations can celebrate together.

Delaware Pride Festival: June 6

• Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Location: Dover Legislative Green
• Website
• Description: Visit the most fabulous Delaware Pride Festival, where we celebrate diversity, acceptance, and unity. This vibrant event showcases the strength and creativity of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.

2026 Philly Pride Festival: June 7

• Time: 12:00pm
• Location: Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Website
• Cost: $10
• Description: In 2026, Philly Pride 365 moves to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as Pride continues to grow into one of Philadelphia’s largest civic and cultural gatherings. This transition reflects the scale of the event, the need for improved safety and accessibility, and a long-term vision for building a sustainable Pride for the future.

Jersey Pride 2026: June 7

• Time: 12:00 – 7:00pm
• Location: Asbury Park, NJ
• Website
• Cost: $12
• Description: New Jersey’s 34th Annual Statewide LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration will be held in-person on Sunday, June 7th 2026. As always, we have been working closely with the host city of Asbury Park to ensure the safety of all participants. It is the largest, and oldest, LGBTQ Pride Celebration in the garden state, with attendance under normal circumstances surpassing 20,000.

Slate Belt Pride 2026: June 13

• Time: 12:00 – 6:00pm
• Location: Weona Park, Route 512, Pen Argyl
• Website
• Description: Join us for the 4th Annual Slate Belt Pride festival, a full day of celebration, unity, and pride. Enjoy live music, drag and other performances, local vendors and makers, food trucks and tasty treats, carousel rides, and family friendly activities.

Berks Pride Fest 2026: June 19

• Time: 11:00am – 5:00pm
• Location: Jim Dietrich Park, 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road, Reading
• Website
• Cost: $5
• Description: Berks Pride Fest is the largest and longest-running LGBTQ+ Pride celebration in Berks County, hosted by Reading Pride Celebration. Featuring live performances, diverse vendors, food trucks, and community organizations, Berks Pride Fest creates an inclusive, welcoming space that celebrates authenticity, visibility, and pride for all.

2026 Lancaster Pride Festival: June 20

• Time: 12:00 – 6:00pm
• Location: Penn Medicine Park, 650 N Prince St, Lancaster
• Website
• Description: This year’s free Pride Festival will feature everything our community has come to love — incredible entertainment, local vendors, and opportunities to connect with one another — along with a renewed focus on connecting LGBTQIA+ individuals with organizations, services, and resources that support our community year-round.

Chester County PrideFest: June 20

• Time: 12:00 – 5:00pm
• Location: Bridge St., Phoenixville
• Website
• Description: As Chester County’s largest LGBTQIA+ celebration, PrideFest brings together thousands of people from across the region for a joyful, affirming day rooted in visibility, connection, and belonging. PrideFest is about more than a single day. It’s a space where LGBTQIA+ people, families, and allies can show up fully, celebrate who they are, and be reminded that they are not alone.

Community Resources

• Human Rights Campaign
• National LGBTQ Taskforce
• Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• The Trevor Project
• Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD)
• The LGBT Center of Greater Reading
• City of Philadelphia Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs
• William Way Center – Philly  
• The Pride Center of New Jersey
• Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center – Lehigh Valley

Campus Resources

Allied - Student Organization & Fellowship Group

Contact: Visit PAX to learn more or join during the academic year.

Instagram: @alverniaallied

Medical and Counseling Center

Visit the Medical and Counseling Center webpage for all available services in office and via Penn Medicine On Demand, hours, staff and more. Events are also held throughout the academic year. Check your student activities calendar or stop by to ask about events.

Upcoming Heritage Month: Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15-October 15, 2026

If you are interested in helping to create opportunities that promote equity and inclusion in our campus community, please email Arielle Phillips-Law, Director of Justice, Equity, and Inclusion at arielle.phillips@alvernia.edu. We would love to meet and connect with you!