Growing up gay in rural Freeport was not easy for Joe Weltner.
“There were no rainbow flags in the shop windows, no support groups in schools, no drag story hours at the library,” said Weltner, who now lives in Harrison. “There was just fear, confusion and for me and many others, a lot of pretending.”
He spoke Sunday before a crowd of more than 200 in his hometown of Freeport, gathered for the sixth annual Pride Stroll and Festival, held in Hope Garden on Fifth Street.
In his youth, Weltner said, he was “pretending to be someone just to be safe, just to get by. But I did get by.”
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Weltner is a member of Freeport PA Pride, a nonprofit supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Attendance at the parade doubled from last year, with the more than 200 participants strolling along Fifth Street and beyond on a route throughout the small, historic borough.
Edward Christ of Buffalo Township joined Pride last year. He and his wife have two adult children who are gay.
“This is not going away, our annual Pride stroll, but now we’re looking to expand and have more events throughout the year, including educational workshops,” Christ said. “We’re ramping up our efforts on social media.”
Attendees from outside of Freeport included people from the South Hills, Pittsburgh, Monroeville and the Alle-Kiski Valley.
“We’re just giving people a chance to show their support. In little Freeport, too,” Christ said. “It’s towns like this that need to be able to show that support and love is offered and accepted.”
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Bryan Mattich recalled growing up in Freeport and not having anywhere to turn for support.
“Pride events like this didn’t exist,” said Mattich, who lives in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lincoln Place. He attended the stroll with his husband, Shayne Mattich.
“We never imagined we would have the right to get married,” Bryan Mattich said. “While the (Freeport) community has made significant progress, there’s still much work to be done. Participating in local pride events is our way of giving back to the community and expressing our pride without fear of backlash.”
Free crafts and a continuous bubble-making machine, along with music, were on hand for the youngsters.
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The parade organizers announced that Freeport PA Pride has officially become a nonprofit organization as of last month.
Weltner included a special nod to the late George Wolfe, a local pizza shop owner who was instrumental in getting the Pride stroll up and running.
“We’re here to survive and thrive,” Weltner said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
After Weltner’s rousing personal testimony, the crowd burst into raucous cheering, under sunny skies but sweltering heat.
The stroll took participants throughout Freeport for about a mile and culminated in the Hope Garden for music and free tacos provided by Monarch Hospice.
Jennifer Haven of Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood never misses a stroll.
Wearing a T-shirt with the word “Equality” and holding a rainbow flag, Haven recalled her dad’s ties to Freeport.
“My sister lived here, my dad grew up here. I come to support Freeport and I feel like they need more allies out here. I come out to share my love and support,” Haven said.
Weltner applauded the higher attendance this year.
“I never imagined something like this would take place in our small, one-stoplight town. But thanks to George Wolfe, who started this event six years ago, it’s steadily grown. Events like this are especially vital in rural areas — they remind people they’re not alone and that they’re supported and their rights matter,” Weltner said.
Some people have posted negative comments on social media about the annual stroll.
“That kind of energy goes against everything this event stands for,” Weltner said. “Differences of opinon will always exist, but our attention remains on creating a welcoming, inclusive space.”
