SEEN IN GAY NEW HOPE

Happy Monday

The Pride Ball at the Raven

As you can tell by the Mistress's tone, I am yet again thrilled it's Monday. I'm just a wee bit exhausted from being out and about this weekend with Pride festivities. It's the first one I attended in two years' don't go every year to the festival and parade since there are so many to go to around here. On Saturday, May 21, was the big day..... the fraternal twin cities of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New Jersey, hosted the New Hope Celebrates Pride Parade. The nationally recognized parade is the gem of the Annual Pride Festival, which drew an estimated 15,000 people this year and is said to be the only Pride event that crosses state lines. This one was really a good one and probably my favorite to attend as New Hope recognizes and celebrates diversity and different everyday. The vibe on Saturday was one of just that — a multidimensional celebration of diverse identities free from discrimination and celebrated in the streets. Bands, motorcycle clubs, floats and more sashayed their way through the streets of Lambertville and across the Lambertville-New Hope Bridge into Pennsylvania.  Although rain was in the forecast, participants and viewers alike came out to celebrate as if the only possibility was sunshine all day. Their energy was enough to stave off the bad weather for the duration of the parade, which ended in cheers and a breakout moment of dancing in the streets under a light drizzle. Followed by ample cock-a-tails around town, a huge drag reception, and a the Raven's legendary Wet and Wild Pool Party and Show. Seen around town.....

This year the HUGE 15'X25' Pride flag and all the flags around town were placed this year in honor of it's creator, the late Gilbert Baker.

Two YES boys from the Raven!!! Who needs NO boys?

Even Thunder Showers helped keep away the rain

There's always time for a cock-a-tail or three at the Mansion

Diva extraordinaire Dorothy Bishop entertained at the drag reception. Loved her Hillary verses Trump !!!! You should see wear she pushed the pins!

A parade goer who we met, and later joined us for drinks and hopefully a new friend. The trans community turned out in huge force and it was nice to see the reception they got....and deserve.

The town love Miss Richfield 1981!!!!!

I even throw on some old frock with China Cup for one of the charities shows last week.

While the town frowns on any chain business, it's a cold/warm relationship with Starbucks, there in the background. But they are huge supporters of the town, gay community, and most of the events and drag shows. There's their flag that will fly all month long.

New Hope's Grand Dame Miss Pumpkin, huh, in a Pumpkin

The Fabulous Sherry Vine at the Raven

Some of the Mistress's Clan

Even the horses around here get into the act

Our Pop-Up LGBTQ Community History Exhibit also put together this amazing video of the town, the Raven and it's pass characters together. It was so cool to see and a bit sad, as so many colorful people are gone. But worth a watch. You can just sense the community

feel.

Hat tip to the hunky Preston for helping take some of these photos.