TOMS RIVER – Pride Day returned to the township with a variety of activities that included musical performances, speeches, a library book sale and the theme of tolerance, understanding and acceptance.
The 8th annual Toms River Pride Festival was part of the Toms River and Seaside Pride Weekend. Seaside events kicked off the night before at Jimbo’s Bar & Grill followed by drag brunch at Seaside Social House on Sunday, which was produced by Pork Roll Egg & Queens featuring Lady Celestina, Lexi Pro, Spectra Electra, and DJ Pat Sway.
Toms River and Seaside Pride organizers told The Toms River Times, “the festival on Washington Street had over 100 vendors consisting of nonprofits, arts and crafts, business, retailers, food trucks, and our many Downtown shops like Battle River Brewing, Battlegrounds Distilling, Gifted on Washington, Coastal Confections, Ocean Partnership for Children, Canine Aesthetics, and more.”
This year’s festival was hosted by the Toms River Artist Community (TRAC Gallery). The organizers were “grateful to TRAC for taking on this inclusive tradition and we’re thrilled that art and expression remain at the core of its mission. We featured LGBTQ+ and ally artists in the TRAC Gallery Pride window display which is up from June 1-July 15, as well as a showcase in the new TRAC Community Space extension at 40 Main Street that included works by Portraits of the Jersey Shore author/photographer and fierce ally Gregory Andrus and Pride photojournalist and activist Christina Mertz.”
“We are proud to have honored activist and advocate (4th District congressional candidate) Rachel Peace as our 2026 Pride Grand Marshal. Our Pride Advocate Awardees included Garden State Equality’s Executive Director Brielle Winslow-Majette and Southern Regional School Board member Lisa Mazzola who acted in a personal capacity and is the first LGBTQ+ school board member in all of Ocean County,” they added.
“Our main stage line-up included festival emcee Desirée Moonshine, Malverick, Redbird, Tastie, Sasha Curvy, Mona Little, Jada Honey Diamondz, Soup Can Magazine with Chris Rockwell, Dan Stinger, Saucy Studios, and The CartWheelers. We also hosted special screenings of the Academy Award winning Freeheld documentary and subsequent feature film of the same name to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Ocean County Prosecutor Lt. Laurel Hester’s passing and civil rights victory,” they said.
With the support of the Downtown Toms River Business Improvement District (BID), Washington Street was transformed into a rainbow avenue enjoyed by more than 8,000 attendees with ASL interpretation available all day.
Among the participants that showcased their resources to the public were representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Health Department, the Manchester Democrats, Queer Headed, Saint Francis Counseling Service, and others.
Church Members Come To Pride Day
There were various houses of worship present such as the Christ Episcopal Church of Toms River, Saint Mary’s By-the Sea Episcopal Church of Point Pleasant Beach and Good Shepherd American Reformed Catholic Church of Toms River.
Reverend Rocco Sherman was handing out Skittles candy, bracelets and LGBTQ+ flags as he greeted attendees at the event. He, Tom Lone and Bill Bogardus of the Saint Mary’s By-the Sea Episcopal Church of Point Pleasant Beach were among those manning their organization tent. “This is our fourth year here. Our sign says everyone is welcome,” Sherman said. The church had a bulletin board where you could write messages of hope and understanding.
“The bracelets are important because they say ‘Jesus loves me’ on it. That is important because the message of the gospel is love but a lot of people of the LGBTQ community are told otherwise,” Lone said. “God has created all of us, all of humankind.”
Four members of one church disagreed with that view. As they have done at prior Pride Day events in Toms River, they attempted to disrupt the activities with a bullhorn message calling for LGBTQ+ individuals to repent and find Jesus.
A 23-year-old member of that church who identified herself as Hailey told The Toms River Times, “this is a sin. It states it in the bible. They have a decision. God gave us all free will but there is a judgement day and if you are living in sin, you will be judged. We don’t want to see people to go to hell. Even if only one soul is saved it is worth it.” She described her church as being a home fellowship based in Toms River.
Messages of condemnation toward the LGBTQ+ community, however, were shouted down by many individuals present.
“God loves everybody equally – male, female, dog, cat – it does not matter. If you judge before God you are going to hell and that is what they are doing, they are judging before God and if you judge God, that is a no-no,” event attendee Harold Smith of Jackson Township said.
“You could feel isolated and alone and it is moments like this that reminds you that you are not alone and that you are loved and that this is a community for everybody. These jokers over here do not speak for us,” said an attendee who identified himself as Steve.
“My daughter is gay and they say she is going to hell; no she’s not. Gay people are just like me or you and these people who come they want to put a show on but no one is listening to them. They let something ugly get into their hearts. We all love peace and they are causing havoc,” Smith added.
“My wife and I are raising two kids. My wife is a member of Good Shepard. The don’t believe that everyone was born in sin. Everyone is welcome,” Shannon Terry of Toms River said.
The post Pride Day Returns To Toms River appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
