On June 22, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Cherry Grove Pride Parade, the Grove held its 21st annual Pride Parade around downtown Cherry Grove and it finally felt like the start of summer.
The organizations were there: the Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG), with Homecoming Queen 2019 Victoria Falls and APCG President and Invasion Founder Thom “Panzi” Hansen; the Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc., headed by Diane Romano; the Cherry Grove Dune Fund; Cherry Grove’s volunteer Fire Department (CGFD), with Chief Jill Navarra; and Northwell Health and the Doctor’s House. The businesses were there: Top of the Bay and Island Breeze restaurants, Dune Point guesthouse, and Coastal Roots. There was a Leather Contingent, consisting of Dawn Cookler, Messrs Fire Island Leather 2019 Bruce Michael II, 2005 Joe Saporito, and 2001 this writer, Mr. Fire Island Bear 2019, and John Tartamella.
Also seen were: singer and Fire Island News columnist Bob “Rose” Levine, Q News’ Lee Sharmat and Clara Bogetti, singer Porsche, Miss Pearl, Logan Hardcore, soprano Shirley Ritenour and spouse Beth Cantwell, Cherry’s co-founder Meryl Facterman, cabaret singer Marieann Meringolo, photographers Lorraine Michels with spouse Joan Van Ness, Koitz, Sue Kravitz, and Ray Bagnuolo, custom leatherwear designer David Samuel Menkes from Fire Island Pines, and Sue Panzer, organizing the line of march.
Events later in the day included a dance with Lady DJ, complete with birthday celebration for APCG’s Francine Sardone, at the Community House, decorated in rainbows for Pride; a benefit for CGFD at Cherry’s; and a spectacular display of Pride fireworks over the Great South Bay.

photo credits & captions:
all photos by Bruce-Michael Gelbert, except where noted
Community House, decorated for Pride
Lorraine Michels & Joan Van Ness
Northwell Health/Cherry Grove Doctor's House
Petra & Nicky & mermaids
reigning Cherry Grove Royalty: Mr. Fire Island Leather 2019 Bruce Michael II, Homecoming Queen Victoria Falls & Mr. Fire Island Bear 2019
Cherry Grove Dune Fund
Top of the Bay
Leather Contingent -- photo by Koitz
Clara Bogetti & Lee Sharmat
Porsche
Miss Pearl
Logan Hardcore
Donna Piranha & Meryl Facterman
Shirley Ritenour & Beth Cantwell
Sue Panzer
Bob Levine
CGCAI
Dale Lally
Island Breeze
APCG President Thom "Panzi" Hansen & CGFD's Kay Davis
CGFD
Scarpa family: Annie, Mario, Paul & Michael