Pastor Brandon Moore of Radiant Refuge stands in front of a “Hope Depot” tent. (Photo by Annabelle Chipps/News)

By Annabelle Chipps, New Castle News

The biggest issues facing the western Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ community are a lack of visibility, resources and access to safe spaces, according to local queer individuals.

To try and combat this, New Castle’s second Pride festival was held in Cascade Park on Saturday.

The event featured more than 20 vendors, family-friendly drag queen performances, an informational panel, raffles and more.

“We need the representation and sense of safety, especially in this political climate,” event organizer Trevor Preisel said. He said he organized the festival because other LGBTQ+ events weren’t scheduled locally this year.

“I’m very stubborn and I wanted to make this happen,” he said.

Tents showcased LGBTQ+ centers and resources in the area, such as the Shenango Valley Pride Alliance.

This group has been hosting Pride picnics for four years, but opened its own space last year.

Nykki Hiple is the organization’s vice president.

“One of our biggest things is building community, whether it is LGBTQ+ people, allies, friends or family so everyone knows they’re supported,” they said.

The Shenango Valley Pride Alliance also hosts craft nights, provides STI/HIV clinics and works with local service organizations.

Last year, they hosted a candlelit vigil in honor of Pauly Likens, a transgender teen whose murdered body was found in the Shenango River in Sharon.

“We couldn’t stop what happened to Pauly, but we can stop it from happening to someone else,” Hiple said.

The organization will be hosting another vigil at the end of this month in remembrance of Likens.

Another group in attendance was Radiant Refuge, an online-only LGBTQ+ church based in New Castle.

“In New Castle, there’s a dichotomy. There’s a large gay community and a large anti-gay community,” Brandon Moore, the church’s pastor, said. “That’s why our church is open and affirming to anyone.”

Moore called the Pride festival “fantastic,” stating, “The weather is perfect. [Cascade Park] is a perfect spot for the event.”

Radiant Refuge shared its tent with Rainbow Tree, a grassroots support group that has been supporting the Lawrence County queer community since 2013.

“In this area in general, it’s really tough to get groups like this off the ground,” member Samantha Colucci said. “LGBTQ+ people in rural areas do not have enough spaces where they can feel comfortable being themselves.”

Rainbow Tree offers peer support services via telephone and works to provide activities such as drag shows and game nights.

Marco Schiebel of Pulaski, who grew up in Butler, said he was not expecting a Pride event so close to home.

“I’m very fortunate in the way that I’ve never been directly attacked like many of my peers have,” he said. “I’ve mostly gotten comments about the way I look or people asking what I am. It’s very awkward.

“I’m pretty excited. I didn’t know this many people would show up.”

Charles Maynard, of Mercer, said this festival was his first time interacting with Pride.

As a bisexual man, Maynard said he is “glad the community is so strong.”

“I find it amazing. It sucks that there are still problems in this area, but dang it if we’re not making some progress,” he said.

Annabelle Chipps is a recent graduate of Slippery Rock University and one of 10 Pittsburgh Media Partnership summer interns.