BARNEGAT – In just ten months since its inception, Barnegat Pride has made a significant impact on the local community, fostering inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. Founded in March 2024 by Carrie Diona, the nonprofit organization has rapidly expanded, engaging over 1,000 members and allies while hosting a variety of events and initiatives aimed at strengthening the community.
At the February Barnegat Township Committee meeting, Diona addressed local officials, extending congratulations to the newly elected township representatives and emphasizing the group’s commitment to fostering inclusivity.
“We are your constituents. We’re here. We pay our taxes. We have friendships, houses, our kids in various programs, and we have worked with the community since our inception,” Diona said. “We have made an impact in those ten months, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to be a part of our Barnegat Pride Festival on May 31.”
Members of the Barnegat Pride stand around the “Hate has No Place in Ocean County” sign. (Photo courtesy Barnegat Pride)
The festival, set to take place at 382 N Main Street, the former site of the Edwards School, will run from noon to 5 p.m. It aims to celebrate unity and visibility, featuring food trucks, vendors, entertainment, and auctions. B98.5 radio will be present, adding to the festivities.
Diona’s invitation to township officials contrasted with interactions she had with the governing body in 2019. Back then, Mayor Alfonso “Al” Cirulli, a retired educator, spoke for nearly 20 minutes during a town meeting against a then-new law concerning instruction on the contributions of persons with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. He called the law “an affront to almighty God.”
Cirulli added that his remarks were not meant to represent the governing body and said he did not intend to express feelings of hate or bigotry. Following those remarks, Diona was among those who protested, asking the mayor to separate his personal views from his role as a representative of all constituents.
The mayor said he spoke with Diona privately at the conclusion of this month’s meeting. He took her hand in his as they conversed.
“I told her that I respect all people and am here to protect all of our residents,” Cirulli said.
Barnegat Pride founder Carrie Diona addressed Barnegat Mayor Al Cirulli at the township’s most recent meeting. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
The Spark Of An Idea
Diona’s journey to founding Barnegat Pride began with a simple conversation with her friend, Tara Hoffman. The two have been friends since Diona first moved to the community in 2008.
Now a 53-year-old woman, Diona couldn’t help but notice the lack of resources for the LGBTQ+ community south of Asbury Park. “From Asbury Park to Mays Landing, there are no regular meeting places for our community and allies to convene,” she explained.
“Carrie’s one of my best friends,” Tara shared. “We’ve been friends for many years, and she was on the fence about starting an organization, and I reminded her we have one chance in this life, and she needed to follow her dream and do what needed to be done.’”
Diona’s initial hesitation stemmed from a lack of resources, but Hoffman’s encouragement and financial support proved crucial. In record time, Barnegat Pride was registered as a 501(3)(c) nonprofit. Hoffman joined the group as an ally and her son, Danny, a senior at Barnegat High School, became the organization’s first youth director.
Barnegat Mayor Al Cirulli. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“The most important thing we have in life is to spread kindness,” Hoffman emphasized. “You never know what people are going through in their lives and there’s no place for hate – people need to learn to love more.”
Robert Hawk, who fundraises for Barnegat Pride, recognized Diona’s challenges. He saw her building a nonprofit from the ground up. He suspected that would be an even harder feat as a LGBTQ organization. Hawk prefaced that by noting that the group’s creation was much needed in the area, and discovered the response was overwhelmingly positive.
Hawk admits that he felt a personal connection to the group. His daughter is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and shared some interesting thoughts that led him to discover a “shocking fact.”
“Children ages 12-18 who are members of the LGBTQ community have one of the highest suicide rates in the country,” Hawk asserted. “The causes are being bullied at school, which is supposed to be a zero-tolerance policy, but isn’t; their families showing no support; or feeling there is something wrong with them. That needs to change.”
Events Strengthening Bonds
Since its founding, Barnegat Pride has actively engaged in local initiatives. The organization has hosted blood drives in partnership with the American Red Cross, with another scheduled for July. They have also participated in community-centered events such as a Thanksgiving pie-sharing, a Christmas toy drive with Barnegat PBA Local 296, and a seminar on inflation impacts for small businesses.
The organization held its first annual dinner party and gift raffle in September 2024, nearly selling out 150 tickets. Most recently, they made a significant donation of hand soap and sanitizer to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Food Bank.
The next major event on the calendar is Mardi Gras Drag Bingo, scheduled for March 7 at the Barnegat Recreation Center.
In addition to social gatherings, Barnegat Pride holds educational events, including planned presentations by the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce and RWJ/Barnabas Health’s Proud Center and Name Change Clinic. Future seminars will include the New Jersey Civil Rights Unit addressing civil rights protections and hate crime reporting.
Members of Barnegat Pride gave away toys at Christmas. (Photo courtesy Barnegat Pride)
Diona is quick to point out that all are welcome to join seminars and presentations and learn news important to the community. She also said that both Recreation Director Jean Broadbent and Lieutenant Nicholas Venuto have been supportive to the group, who meet monthly in the Barnegat Recreation Center.
“They’ve been great to us,” Diona said. “And anyone who wants to come to our events should know we respect everybody. We are open to all. We don’t turn anyone away. We love our allies because they help us progress and grow.”
Collaboration has been key to Barnegat Pride’s success. Diona has actively sought to build relationships with various community organizations, including the Barnegat Police Department, the Rotary Club, and the local PBA.
At its core, Barnegat Pride is about promoting love and acceptance for all. “It’s not about sexuality of the person,” Diona explained. “It’s about how they treat you and how they care about you.”
Looking ahead to the Pride Festival in May, Diona is optimistic that the event will be successful and fun for more than one reason. “Hopefully we’ll be able to have enough money on the back burner to actually open a space for a Pride Center in Barnegat for children and adults to go and convene and feel safe on a daily basis,” she shared.
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