Batavia hosting Pride parade and festival for GLOW region on June 14

Press Release, GLOW OUT!

Charlene Cameron’s painting, Together We Bloom, is the official artwork for Pride 2025.

BATAVIA – Saturday, June 14 will see the seventh annual Parade and Festival for LGBTQ+ Pride in Batavia, once again hosted by GLOW OUT!

The local celebration of LGBTQ+ love and resilience has grown each year since 2019, with support of communities and allies. June is recognized as National LGBTQ+ Pride Month in remembrance of the Stonewall riots in New York City in June of 1969, which catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

“Pride is important every year, but especially now,” said Lauren Berger, the newly appointed GLOW OUT! director. “It’s our history, it’s a celebration of survival and how much we have gained – and a moment to recognize who we are still fighting for.”

GLOW OUT! provides training, support, and events to raise awareness, build community and celebrate those in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties who are LGBTQ+ – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. Many allies – straight and/or cisgender people who support and advocate for their loved ones in the LGBTQ+ community – also attend Pride each year.

An opening ceremony on Sunday June 1 at the First Batavia Presbyterian Church saw remarks by youth leaders and honors bestowed on the 2025 Parade Grand Marshal and Youth Marshal, two individuals who will lead the parade.

Awards were presented to HERO Individual recipient Sheri Kreher, and inaugural HERO Business recipient, Judy Hysek of Eden Cafe in Batavia. The HERO Awards recognize one individual and one business respectively, who have contributed significantly to the mission of GLOW OUT! and have demonstrated consistent solidarity with and commitment to inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our local communities.

“We know that having fun events like Pride are empowering, especially for youth,” said GLOW OUT! President John Couri. “It’s important for people to connect and celebrate one another – especially for a young person, who might go to a small school and feel isolated.”

Those who are 21 and over are welcome at a Happy Hour hosted at GO Art! The evening preceding the festival, Friday, June 13, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Batavia’s Juneteenth celebrations are also on the 14, and the host agencies are collaboratively working for a strong showing at both.

The Batavia Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 14, will begin with a Story Hour for families in Jackson Square at 3 p.m. The Parade will line up at Batavia First Presbyterian Church, stepping off at 5 p.m. The route will cross Main Street, turn left onto Washington Avenue and left again onto Bank Street, finishing back at Jackson Square where the Pride Festival (including vendors, food, and drag shows) will continue until 10 p.m. Those 21 and over are welcome at the after-party at TF Brown’s until 12 a.m.

“The Pride festival isn’t our only event this month,” added Berger. “We have our regular Golden GLOWs and Youth Drop-in meet ups, as well as a Karaoke event on Saturday the 21st at Go Art! From 6 – 8 p.m.”

GLOW OUT! Has added a website with events for June and ways to be involved in Batavia Pride. Find more information at linktr.ee/BataviaPride.

GLOW OUT! connects the rural LGBTQ+ population in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans & Wyoming counties, through advocacy and education, creating a beacon for those in need of a safe and supportive community in times when we need it most. For more information, visit GLOWOUT.org.