The first Gay Pride Celebration in Westchester County was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12 at Playland Park. Organized by the Westchester Pride Coalition, Westchester's first LGBT Pride celebration was slated to take advantage of Playland's rides, amusements and family fun on the last Saturday of the season.

David Juhren, the executive director of The LOFT: the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in White Plains declared: “This is an event that’s long overdue. Westchester’s LGBT residents had to celebrate their diversity and pride at other Pride events in the region. Those other festivals are wonderful, but celebrating in your own community fosters self esteem and builds a permanent sense of belonging.”

In May 2009, The LOFT banded together with 12 other nonprofit LGBT organizations and programs to form the Westchester Pride Coalition. The coalition quickly voted to focus its efforts on creating a Pride festival in Westchester. Yvette Christofilis, the Westchester County liaison to the LGBT Community, helped the group secure Playland Park as the venue for the celebration.

“This event is completely different from other Gay Pride celebrations in the region, since it is held at one of Westchester’s landmarks,” Christofilis said. “We were committed to creating a family-friendly atmosphere from the very start, and what better place than an amusement park?”

County Executive Andy Spano was scheduled to be on hand to welcome participants and to have a meet and greet at the Pride Pavilion. On being invited to come to the event, Spano said, “I love Playland! I’m excited about this. I’m glad the Coalition decided to hold its first event there and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

But things didn't quite turn out as planned on Sat., Sept. 12. The day dawned with a forecast of rain and wind. In order to protect the people and their families who might be visiting the park, Playland was closed for the day.

However, the weather forcast for Sunday, Sept. 13 called for beautiful weather, sunny skies and a nice breeze off the Sound. So Playland let the Coalition move the entire event, as it was planned, to the following day. Many people spent that rainy Saturday making phone calls and sending e-mails to get the word out that the first Westchester Pride event was still on! Just one day later.

And many people did get the message. Most of the vendors showed up to set up tables around the festively directed Pride Pavilion. More than 300 people from the LGBT community, their friends, families and allies came to enjoy the beautiful day at Playland. County Executive Andy Spano moved his schedule around so he could come for a meet and greet. Also in attendance were Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Westchester County Legislator Ken Jenkins and the Mayor of Ossining, Bill Hanauer.

What could have been a disaster turned out to be an unqualified success thanks to the help and flexibility of Playland, the hard work of the Westchester Pride Coalition, and the high hopes and expectations of the LGBT community. Let's do it again next year!

Members of the Westchester Pride Coalition include AIDS-Related Community Services, Center Lane, the Gateway Program at Westchester Medical Center, GLSEN Hudson Valley, Lambda Peer Support Services, The LOFT: the LGBT Community Center, NYTRO, PFLAG Westchester, Planned Parenthood, Rainbow Alliance of Westchester, Straight Spouse Network, Victims Assistance Services, Westchester Lesbian Connection, and the Westchester County Office of LGBT Affairs. Learn more about the Westchester Pride Coalition.