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Beyond the Byline: Remembering Joey Milazzo and his philanthropy

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Event breaks out the pucks to fight cancer

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Pride is freedom from fear, unapologetically queer and standing for justice, Em Maloney, the founder of Queer NEPA, said at the kick-off of Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s first Pride March to the Park on Saturday.</p><p>The Northeast Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance Pride Parade, sponsored by The Wright Center for Community Health, was held in conjunction with United We Stand, Divided We Fall&#8217;s 15th annual Drug Awareness Block Party on Public Square.</p><p>&#8220;We want to raise awareness on all issues,&#8221; Gontay Elgodo, vice president at United We Stand Divided We Fall said, adding it was a perfect fit to have the parade included in the day&#8217;s activities, which included a morning 5K walk/run, the Block Party, and the Pride Parade.</p><p>&#8220;We mainly want to promote peace,&#8221; Elgodo said, noting the recent issues surrounding a controversial brick on a public monument on Public Square. &#8220;We don&#8217;t want to see anyone destroy that peace.&#8221;</p><p>Elgodo was referencing an incident on Friday when Wilkes-Barre native Gene Stilp was taken into custody and cited by city police for trying to deface a red brick imprinted with the name East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire, which is a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated group.</p><p>On Saturday, only positive feelings were flowing on the Square.</p><p>Free Mom Hugs, a group of moms offering compassion and support for the LGBTQ community, was offering hugs to all that came.</p><p>&#8220;We are so happy the LGBTQ community is going to be visible walking from one point to another downtown,&#8221; Vanessa White Fernandes, co-chair of the Free Mom Hugs Pennsylvania Chapter said.</p><p>Dwayne Heisler, a board of directors member with the equal rights advocacy group Action Together, agreed, adding, the parade is a big step forward for the LGBTQ community.</p><p>&#8220;We are still considered second-class citizens,&#8221; Heisler said. &#8220; I can get married, but fired from my job if I put a wedding picture on my desk.&#8221;</p><p>Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast that has not updated its anti-discrimination laws yet, he said.</p><p>The colorful parade began at noon with over 100 participants, which many wore rainbow-colored clothing and carried signs that said, &#8220;Born Gay Follow The Ray, Born Straight Refuse To Hate&#8221; and &#8220;I can get fired for whom I love. Please pass the Equality Act.&#8221;</p><p>The parade route went from Public Square, down Market Street, across the Market Street Bridge to Kirby Park. The group received compassion and</p><p>support from passing motorists in the forms of beeping horns, cheers and thumbs-up signs.</p><p>At Kirby Park, Pride Pride Community event featured a variety of vendors, which included merchants selling Pride Parade memorabilia and rainbow wear as well as companies such as Amazon, Dream Vacations, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBTQ Community Center, PNC, and Mondelez International Rainbow Council to</p><p>name a few.</p><p>The parade sponsor, The Wright Center for Community Health was also on hand to promote their medical services, which includes dental, behavioral and medical care.</p><p>&#8220;We have been involved with the Northeast Pennsylvania Rainbow Alliance for many years and will continue to support them by offering inclusive medical care,&#8221; said Maria Montoro-Edwards, vice president for Strategic Initiatives at The Wright Center for Community Health, which is based in</p><p>Scranton and has locations in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nine-year-old Noelle Rasmovicz, left, and her mom Samantha, both of Sugar Notch, make their way around NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nine-year-old Noelle Rasmovicz, left, and her mom Samantha, both of Sugar Notch, make their way around NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A large crowd watches Daisie Couture, of Dingmans Ferry, perform during the open drag competition at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_3.jpg</photo1><caption1>A large crowd watches Daisie Couture, of Dingmans Ferry, perform during the open drag competition at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Saree Bowen, left, and Savrian Foy, both of Moscow, applaud the open drag performances at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Saree Bowen, left, and Savrian Foy, both of Moscow, applaud the open drag performances at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brittney Ryan, right, and Elizabeth Hirschman, both of Edwardsville, sit on the lawn at NEPA Prdefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_5.jpg</photo3><caption3>Brittney Ryan, right, and Elizabeth Hirschman, both of Edwardsville, sit on the lawn at NEPA Prdefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_IMG_2598.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Marchers are seen crossing the Market Street Bridge during Saturday&#8217;s parade. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_IMG_2598.jpg</photo4><caption4>Marchers are seen crossing the Market Street Bridge during Saturday&#8217;s parade. </caption4><photoCredit4>Courtesy Ron Soper </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Olivia Madison, of Olyphant, performs during the open drag competition at NEPA Pridefest at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Olivia Madison, of Olyphant, performs during the open drag competition at NEPA Pridefest at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gender neutral restrooms were available at NEPS Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_7.jpg</photo6><caption6>Gender neutral restrooms were available at NEPS Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption6><photoCredit6>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tylee Moore, left, has her photo taken by Devan Engels, both of Wilkes-Barre, at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_TTL071419Pridefest_6.jpg</photo7><caption7>Tylee Moore, left, has her photo taken by Devan Engels, both of Wilkes-Barre, at NEPA Pridefest in Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption7><photoCredit7>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Rainbow-filled love for NEPA Pride’s March to the Park