By Mary O’KEEFE and Lynn SHER

Crescenta Valley Park hosted an LA County Dept. of Parks and Recreation sponsored Pride at the Park event on Saturday, June 17. It was one of many in June hosted throughout LA County in honor of Pride Month.

Parks and Recreation implemented these two-hour events “to elevate inclusion in Parks and Recreation programs and spaces while celebrating LA County’s diversity.”

Each event had a different schedule of featured activities. For examples, Ted Watkins Park in Watts had a Build-a-Bear table, rainbow flag coloring, food tasting and a vaccine clinic. In Manzanita Park in Hacienda Heights there was a drag story hour. CV Park’s Pride in the Park started at 10 a.m. in the community room by the dog park. There was a complimentary breakfast available for attendees and games were provided like corn hole and a giant checkers board in the outside area and face painting.

St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church, Center for Spiritual Living-Crescenta Valley, the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church (CVUMC) and the Chase Taylor Malone Impact Foundation each had tables set up that provided information about their organizations while showing their love and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Leaders from each group had a chance to give a presentation explaining who they were, what their organization was about and what inspired them to attend the event. Jeanne Lavieri from CVUMC spoke first highlighting the ways her church supports the LGBTQ+ community. She explained how the congregation is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network and has a new ministry called “Around the Rainbow.” According to rmnetwork.org, Reconciling Ministries is “committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church.” CVUMC’s “Around the Rainbow” is a support group for families of LGBTQ+ individuals and is held Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 24 at the church though people start gathering at 6:30 p.m.

“A friend expressed the need,” Lavieri said of how the ministry was started at CVUMC.

The Chase Malone Impact Foundation was the only non-religious organization at the event. Rebekah DeBoskey, a senior at Crescenta Valley High School and a student ambassador for the Foundation, said, “The Impact Foundation is a service that seeks to provide mental health services ranging from nutrition services and yoga to substance abuse programs. It’s particularly impactful for LGBTQ+ youth.”

Though attendance at the event was sparse there are plans on holding another Pride at the Park event next year.

In Glendale, a Pride at the Park event – sponsored by glendaleOUT – was a colorful and joyous event at Adams Square Mini Park in Glendale. It was a family-friendly event that featured a food truck, face painting, and arts and crafts.