‘Reimagined’ Buffalo Pride Week to be held August 17-23

Week-long LGBTQ+ celebration will feature non-crowd-based programming

BUFFALO, NY – AUGUST 11, 2020 – The annual Buffalo Pride Week celebration of the local LGBTQ+ community will take place August 17-23, 2020 and feature two new ways to participate: the ‘Home Sweet Pride’ reverse parade and ‘Speaking with Pride’ social media campaign. All affirming organizations, businesses and individuals are invited to partake in 2020 Buffalo Pride Week by sharing their safe and lawful Pride events and activities on BuffaloPrideWeek.com.

“Love, inclusivity and unity give us strength in a year that has been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Justin Azzarella, vice president of community development at Evergreen Health. “Pride as a concept – as a time to reflect and raise our voices – will always remain, whether we celebrate at a distance, at home or online. We’re excited to bring the Western New York LGBTQ+ community and its many supporters together in new ways, to rejoice in the name of diversity and acceptance. This year especially, Pride embraces people of all walks of life, including those who are black, brown, and every color of the rainbow.”

Beginning August 14, 2020, Pride flags will line Elmwood Avenue, from Forest Avenue to Allen Street, and Allen Street, from Elmwood Avenue to Main Street—an homage to what would normally be the route for the annual Pride Parade, an event that will be celebrated at home this year, in the ‘Home Sweet Pride’ format.

“We are so proud to once again be part of Buffalo Pride Week, a true celebration of LGBTQ+ and this city’s amazing diversity,” said Laura Klapper, a Project Manager at M&T Bank and President of M&T’s WNY Pride Employee Resource Group. “While the pandemic prevents us from filling the streets this year, it will in no way stop us from celebrating the significant contributions that the LGBTQ+ community has made or from recommitting ourselves to supporting and valuing different talents, perspectives and backgrounds.”

Buffalo Pride Week is hosted by the Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, and the celebration is presented by Evergreen Health and M&T Bank. 2020 Buffalo Pride Week includes seven days of programming and two new ways to celebrate:

Home Sweet Pride – In this reverse parade, instead of floats going by houses, we decorate the houses as we would floats. Decorate homes, businesses and neighborhoods in colorful and jubilant Pride decorations. Share your pictures with the hashtag #buffaloprideweek and tag @buffaloprideweek.

Speaking with Pride – Pride has a different meaning for everyone, and we want to hear what it means to you. Post written content, photos, songs, quotes, memes and other contributions on social media, use the hashtag #buffaloprideweek and tag @buffaloprideweek. We’ll share your posts throughout Buffalo Pride Week to uplift members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

Buffalo Pride Week Event Schedule (as of 8/10/20):

8/17-8/23 Home Sweet Pride
8/17-8/23 Speaking with Pride
8/19 REVpride Ride / Strength Party
8/20 Outdoor Dance Performance: Birds Excited into Flight
8/21 GLYS Diversity Prom
8/21 Virtual Vogue Night Competition
8/22 Queen City Kings Drag Presents: ROAR! A Drag Pride Show

We encourage safe and creative ways to celebrate Pride. Upload information about your Pride activities on BuffaloPrideWeek.com. BuffaloPrideWeek.com was launched in 2019 to showcase Pride events through a single, central resource. The public marketing tool allows for all local organizations celebrating Pride to promote their events in one place.

The mission of Buffalo Pride Week is to uplift the LGBTQ+ community by raising awareness and providing access to diverse events that bring people together in the spirit of celebration, advocacy and community engagement. August 17-23, 2020 is a postponed timeframe for Buffalo Pride Week, due to the unprecedented circumstances caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. For the safety of the community, 2020 Buffalo Pride Week does not include the annual Pride Parade or Pride Festival.

The Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, coordinates and manages the Buffalo Pride Parade and Pride Festival as a way to give back to the communities served by Evergreen Health and its affiliate organizations.

Evergreen Health fosters healthy communities by providing medical, supportive, and behavioral services to individuals and families in Western New York – especially those who are living with chronic illness or who are underserved by the healthcare system.

M&T Bank is a multi-state community-focused bank serving New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1856, M&T Bank and its affiliates provide banking, investment, insurance and mortgage financial services to consumer, business and government clients.