16th annual LGBTQ Pride celebration takes over Downtown Jersey City

The City of Jersey City, along with Gayborhood Jersey City and Humanity Pride Production, celebrated 16 years of the LGBTQ community’s impact yesterday.

By Michael Rodriguez/Hudson County View

The festival took place in the heart of downtown Jersey City on Newark Avenue between Grove Street and Jersey Avenue.

Vendors, store fronts, two stages and endless fun paraded through the streets following the raising of the pride flag in front of City Hall.

Performances included; Mantryx Circus Act, Katja Larssen, Evan Laurence, Larger Than Life and many others.

Hudson County View was able to speak to a few of the performers and get their opinions on this years celebration.

“Anytime the community has the opportunity to come together it shows the fact that it doesn’t take one single event to disband a community just as long as a community everybody can stay strong and come together and celebrate to show the community is still a unit”, said one member of Larger Than Life, referring to the recent tragedy in Orlando.

Comedian and Singer Evan Laurence also gave his opinion on the event.

“It’s really good to get involved with the community and showing that we are just people, and I think I find that a lot in Jersey City gay community. Just regular, everyday people who want to just live and not be worried about opinion and judgment.”