Westmoreland Museum of American Art to host annual Greensburg Pride Prom event

Greensburg Pride Prom is back and bigger than ever this Saturday at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg.

The event, held each year during Pride Month in June, is an opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ community in Westmoreland County to get together, let loose and have fun.

Pride Prom, an annual event since 2020, is presented this year by the museum, PFLAG Greensburg and the Westmoreland Cultural Trust.

Elle Marshall, public programs and community engagement manager at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, said that Pride Prom exemplifies the values of inclusion that are part of the museum’s mission.

“A part of that is making sure that everyone feels valued and respected in all the programs we push out from the museum, and I think Pride Prom is one of those,” she said.

From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, attendees can participate in the annual Prom-enade to show off their ensembles (prom wear is encouraged but not required); practice their moves at a dance party with drag queen MCs Alora Chateaux and Phoenix Fatale, featuring music by DJ Paula Jean; and enjoy a performance by pop star Bryce Bowyn, a Latrobe native.

“For me that’s one of the key elements of this event, having him perform,” Marshall said about Bowyn.

There will also be informational tables from community organizations, hosted by PFLAG Greensburg and the Westmoreland Cultural Trust. The participating groups will provide details about their resources for people in the LGBTQIA+ community.

More than a dozen organizations will be present, including the Westmoreland County Food Bank, Wesley Family Services, Westmoreland Diversity Coalition and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Greensburg PFLAG and the Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network will also be present.

“This area has been rather lacking — until 2010, when our organization started — as far as having any kind of organizations that would be helpful to LGBTQIA people and their families,” said Jean Slusser, president of Greensburg PFLAG. “I think that having the event at the museum, I think it’s a place that feels safe to many people.”

“It’s a way for us, for our organizations and the museum, to show all members of the LGBTQ community and their families and loved ones that they are in fact welcomed and celebrated as a part of our larger community,” said Jim Galik, president of the Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network.

This year, a new feature of the event will be a demonstration by Galleria Botanica creating artistic fusions of flowers and jewelry. The resulting pieces will be awarded to the winners of Best Prom Attire, Best Pride Attire and Best Dance Moves at the Prom-enade.

From 7:30 to 8 , Bowynwill perform at the event. Bowyn, who lives in Washington, D.C., is excited that Pride Prom exists for the local community, and he’s been involved since its inception.

“It’s one of the most exciting Pride events I do,” Bowyn said, noting that, as an LGBT pop artist, Pride is one of his busiest times of year for performances.

“I think events like this, it sometimes has the same vibe as a Fourth of July community celebration. It’s just a chance to get everyone to come together, have fun, connect. That’s what Pride is meant to be,” he said.

Much of Bowyn’s music is dance pop, which is perfect for an event like this.

“That’s always been my passion. I love to dance. … I think people tend to be the happiest when they’re dancing. It’s freedom.”

The theme of this year’s Pride Prom is “Leading with Love,” and there will be an interactive station where participants can nominate a community leader or ally whom they feel leads with love.

The event is free and open to all ages. Food will be available for purchase, and there will be a cash bar with themed cocktails and mocktails, as well as local beers.

Bowyn has been encouraged by the amount of young people at Pride Prom in the past few years.

“There’s a whole community. There’s adults, there’s family, there’s friends, there’s different businesses. I didn’t have that 10 years ago when I lived in Latrobe,” he said. “So to see that now is why I keep coming back, because if I had that 10 years ago, it would have been life-changing. For there to be a community now that is so supportive and great is very touching.”

To learn more details and pre-register for Greensburg Pride Prom, visit thewestmoreland.org or call 1-888-718-4253.