Montclair Pride’s talent lineup is stellar!

Out Montclair, a nonprofit providing community, support, and solidarity for LGBTQIA+ people has announced the talent lineup for its inaugural Montclair Pride festival!

The inaugural Montclair Pride festival has announced its first special guests and entertainers for the main stage at its inaugural Montclair Pride on Bloomfield Avenue between Church and Park in downtown Montclair on Saturday, June 11th, 2022.

Emmy award-winning comedian and Essex County native Judy Gold will emcee the festivities from the main stage following a ribbon-cutting by local officials and a kick off by School of Rock. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., State Senator Nia Gill, Montclair Council Member Peter Yacobellis (also Out Montclair’s President) and the Mayor of Montclair Sean Spiller are among the local elected officials who will rally the crowd.

“Where else but Montclair would a 6-foot-3 Jewish lesbian from Newark be the star of this historic occasion. There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than with my New Jersey family in this gay Mayberry, celebrating Pride with everyone in the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. Montclair, you’re gorgeous and you know it and I love you anyway. See you in June,” said Montclair Pride emcee, actress and comedian Judy Gold.

Performers include the recent Broadway cast of Jagged Little Pill, Dyllón Burnside from “Pose,” as well as Felipe Rose, original member of The Village People leading the crowd in singing “YMCA.” Black Trans activist Miss Peppermint, best known from RuPaul’s Drag Race, will perform a set too. 

The festival main stage will also feature a special performance by Montclair local and Broadway legend, Laura Benanti, an appearance by trans activist, supermodel and New Jersey native Carmen Carrera, Maplewood native Randi Driscoll performing “What Matters,” the official tribute song to the late Matthew Shepard, out pro baseball player and country singer Bryan Ruby, the artist J-Line and several more to be announced.

As previously announced, Betty Who is the featured musical artist at the first-ever The Montclair Pride Concert at the Wellmont Theater with Fab the Duo and another soon-to-be-announced singer, as supporting artists and others, Saturday night, June 11, at the Wellmont after the Pride Festival. Tickets for that event are on sale now here.

Out Montclair is also accepting applications for local and regional performers for the School of Rock Stage, sponsored by Summit Health, Montclair Local and the Bravitas Group which will be situated on Park St. near the YMCA. These local voices will help represent Montclair Pride 2022’s theme: “Be You. Be Heard.” Applications are being accepted through May 6th via Out Montclair’s website.

“I’m beyond excited about each of these individuals and the many others who we’ll announce in the future. Each of them, with many from right here in the Garden State, have incredible stories and have contributed so meaningfully to the broader movement for justice and equality in this country,” said Out Montclair President Peter Yacobellis.

“Through remarks and performance, I’m excited to have all of this talent reinforcing our theme of ‘Be You. Be Heard.’ and joining LGBTQIA+ people and our allies from all around the region,” he added.

About Montclair Pride

The Montclair Pride festival, hosted by Out Montclair, will raise awareness and strengthen ties in our community and among all LGBTQ+ people and allies in the region, as well as provide a celebration filled with art, culture, food, music and live performances to uplift LGBTQ+ people, issues and history. Montclair Pride will be held Saturday, June 11, in downtown Montclair.