Pride weekends are usually a spring or summertime thing, but if the people behind the Mug & Muffin in Bordentown, N. J., have anything to say about it, Pride will become a seasonal event.
The gay-owned-and-operated café, which opened this past summer, is one of a handful of LGBT-friendly businesses in this small town near Trenton. But partners and co-owners Jeff Daloisio and Doug Kovacs said they are always looking for ways to promote and advocate for the LGBT community. Their first effort kicks off Jan. 15 with LGBT Pride Weekend at the shop.
Daloisio said the community in Bordentown has been really supportive of the shop and their planned Pride.
“They welcomed us big time,” he said. “They really wanted us here.”
To help organize the event and spread the word, Mug & Muffin enlisted the help of local LGBT organizations and residents.
“We’re closely involved with the GLOBAL [Gays and Lesbians Of Bordentown Area Locales] group and other friends to see what people want and what we can do,” Daloisio said. “[GLOBAL] is basically a newsletter and people get together for a potluck the first Saturday of every month. We’re reaching out to people and we’re open to suggestions this time. Hopefully, next time we’ll do more.”
Even though it’s the event’s debut, Daloisio anticipates a respectable turnout, with room for growth into a quarterly event.
“I’m hoping it’s going to be big,” he said. “It’s definitely going to grow over time as we do it again and again and the word gets out. Right now, we’re just looking for people to participate in the poetry reading on Sunday.”
The festivities also include disco dancing, lesbian speed-dating and screenings of films such as “Can’t Stop The Music: The Village People Movie,” “Pink Flamingos” and “Bruno.”
Mug & Muffin is also on the lookout for links and listings of resources to benefit Bordentown’s LGBT community. Anyone interested in selling Pride merchandise at this or future Pride weekend events can contact Daloisio or Kovacs at (609) 372-4081 or [email protected].
Mug & Muffin’s Pride Weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and runs through 9 p.m. Jan. 17 at the café, 210 Farnsworth Ave. For more information, visit www.mugnmuffin.com.
Larry Nichols can be reached at [email protected].