Weeklong LGBTQ+ celebration will take place
May 31 – June 5 with ‘Homecoming’ theme

BUFFALO, NY – MARCH 10, 2022 – Buffalo Pride Week organizers today announced that the annual celebration will be held May 31 through June 5, with the theme of ‘Homecoming.’ 2022 Buffalo Pride Week will include the Pride Parade and Pride Festival, both of which will be held in-person after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“Each year, Pride Month and Pride Week are opportunities to find strength through love, inclusivity and unity, three things that have been especially needed during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Justin Azzarella, chief strategy officer at Evergreen Health. “Pride has been held virtually and at home for the past two years, and so a safe return of public events is a highly-anticipated ‘Homecoming’ for the LGBTQ+ community. We are so excited that the Parade and Festival are back and we’ll joyfully reunite to uplift LGBTQ+ people and celebrate being in-person once again.”

The annual weeklong celebration traditionally includes family-friendly events, fitness-related events, art events, club parties and much more, at various locations and venues throughout Western New York.

Two signature events, the Pride Parade and Pride Festival, will return as in-person celebrations on Sunday, June 5. The Parade will take place along its normal route, beginning at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Forest Avenue and ending at Canalside. At the conclusion of the Parade, the Festival will take place at Canalside and feature community organizations, family activities, food and beverage vendors, retail vendors and live performances.

In addition to the Parade and Festival, Buffalo Pride Week encourages affirming organizations, businesses and individuals to submit safe and lawful events that abide by current city, county and state COVID-19 guidelines to BuffaloPrideWeek.com.

“We are thankful that the state of the COVID-19 pandemic allows for safe, in-person gatherings. We are also respectful of each person’s comfort levels and want to celebrate in a way that makes everyone feel safe, so you may see a mix of virtual and in-person events this year,” continued Azzarella. “Community safety is our top priority and we’ll continue to monitor guidance set forth by our local and state governments.”

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. The weeklong celebration is hosted by Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, and the celebration is presented by Evergreen Health and M&T Bank. Proceeds from the Pride Festival supports the mission and programming of the Pride Center of Western New York, an affiliate of Evergreen Health.

“We are thrilled to come back together this year to celebrate with the LGBTQ+ community,” said Glenn Jackson, chief diversity officer at M&T Bank. “M&T Bank is all about our people – our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. Buffalo Pride Week is an opportunity to celebrate people, show our pride and recognize there’s more work to do.”

2022 Buffalo Pride Week is also sponsored by Geico, Quest Diagnostics, Linde, Rich Products, National Grid, Tito’s Vodka, Thermo Fischer Scientific, as well as other local businesses.

Beginning today, Buffalo Pride Week participants are welcome to:

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.