Central PA’s Pride Festival Expands with Resilience and Joy

• Asia Tabb
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

Supporting hands make heart sign and wave in front of a rainbow flag flying on the sidelines of a summer gay pride parade

Aired; June 3rd, 2025.

For Dr. Eric Selvey, President of the Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania, Pride is personal — and political. After first joining the board in 1993, serving as president for three of those years, and then returning in 2021 after the pandemic hiatus, Selvey has seen the LGBTQ+ movement in Central Pennsylvania evolve into something both resilient and radiant.

“Pride means to me… proud of who I am, proud of what I do,” Selvey said in a recent interview on The Spark. “Also helping people to seek their own pride… and educating those who don’t understand the LGBTQ community — that we have the same hopes, dreams, and struggles.”

This year’s Pride Festival of Central PA, set for Saturday, July 26, promises more than just a celebration — it represents survival and visibility in a time of shifting political winds and decreasing corporate sponsorship.

What began decades ago as one of the region’s only LGBTQ+ celebrations has blossomed into a multi-county mosaic of events. “Back in 1993, there was really only one major Pride festival — ours,” Selvey explained. “Now, Lancaster, York, Carlisle, Hershey, Hanover, and Gettysburg all have their own festivals.”

The abundance of events has turned Central Pennsylvania into a region of extended celebration.“We actually have two months of Pride — not only June, which is celebrated nationally, but also July,” Selvey said proudly.

The theme for 2024, borrowed from the 1979 anthem by McFadden & Whitehead, sends a clear message of resilience.“We want to show the community — especially the young people — that we’re still here. We’re not going anywhere,” Selvey said. “Despite the political climate, despite the attacks on DEI, we will not be marginalized.”

And while traditional sponsorship has taken a hit — with even longtime supporters like Pepsi going quiet — the committee is finding new ways to keep Pride thriving.“Our presence in the community is such that people just know — June is coming, July is coming — and they chip in what they can to keep Pride going.”

For more information, visit centralpapride.org.