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The Crown & Anchor (“the Crown”) is proud to announce the ‘Prouder Together’ initiative. Over the past year, The Crown has been building relationships with other venues, brands, and destinations that align with its mission to ‘honor, support, celebrate, and elevate’ the LGBTQ+ community, queer arts, artists, and performers.
Prouder Together is a collective of individuals, artists, businesses, non-profits, corporations, venues, and destinations that believe in supporting and stabilizing Pride festivals. With numerous Pride celebrations disappearing over the last five + years, and The Crown’s dedication to the queer community at large, Prouder Together was created to both stabilize and empower a community’s ability to celebrate Pride and demonstrate the strength in solidarity and collaboration within and across the LGBTQ+ community.
“After touring Florida on our ‘Spread Queer Cheer Tour’ and getting to know these other LGBTQ+ communities better, it became clear to me that The Crown’s mission and commitment to ‘honor, support, celebrate, and elevate’ far exceeds our community at the very tip of Cape Cod,” said Jonathan Hawkins, owner of The Crown & Anchor. “We have the opportunity, and more importantly, the responsibility to not only honor and support but to elevate and celebrate each other. We must stand up, speak out, and fight for one another. To come together as a queer community collaboratively to not only just survive but to thrive. To show the strength in our unity and the power in our collective dedication to one another.”
In 2024, the Prouder Together initiative is committed to strengthening and sustaining Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride, which will take place June 12-16. As the presenting sponsor of Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride, Prouder Together has committed to raising funds to support this year’s parade and festival in the ‘second gayest city in America,’ but will also sponsor and program the festival’s Black Excellency Stage. Additionally, The Crown and Prouder Together will produce Pride Fantasia: A Celebration of The Arts benefitting Sunserve on June 12 at The Venue, The Eagle’s Leather & Bear Ball on Friday, June 14, and Flockfest’s Splash Pool Party ‘Rainbow Edition’ on Sunday, June 16.
“I am grateful to witness the inspiring partnership between the newly established Prouder Together project, initiated by Jonathan Hawkins and his team at the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, and our cherished Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride,” said Chris Caputo, Wilton Manors City Commissioner. “This collaboration is not merely a sponsorship but a profound demonstration of solidarity and shared purpose across the miles. The Crown & Anchor, though rooted in Provincetown, is setting a remarkable precedent by extending its resources and support to ensure the success of our Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors. This initiative is about more than one event; it's about forging a model of community collaboration that can significantly enhance Pride celebrations in cities nationwide.”
The Crown has been “on the road” supporting queer businesses and destinations of all sizes. The Crown has brought the queer and inclusive spirit of Provincetown and its performing arts community to events in cities across North America, including Mantamar Bear Week, Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week, White Party Palm Springs, and most recently, Miami Beach Pride. The Crown, through Prouder Together and its collective of sponsors and supporters, will continue to raise awareness and funds to support Wilton Manor’s Stonewall Pride, as well as its ongoing mission to honor and elevate the queer communities ability to celebrate each other at events throughout Pride month and beyond.
These event partnerships and performances have become the Prouder Together Tour, which will continue with Puerto Vallarta Pride: May 20-26, Provincetown Pride: May 31-June 2, Key West Pride: June 5-10, Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride: June 12-16, Flockfest on July 6, and culminating with the Prouder Together Week in Ptown: July 7-13 bringing the Prouder Together Family to Provincetown for an epic takeover of the Crown!
"Jonathan Hawkins and I have worked closely together for several years, including the 2019 and 2020 Stonewall Prides’ Our Night Out and the creation of Wilton Manors Business Association (WMBA) Holiday Spectacular in The Park," said Jeffrey Sterling, CEO of Wilton Manors Entertainment Group Inc & Hotspots Media Inc. “The support we’ve received from Provincetown’s Crown & Anchor through Prouder Together has been instrumental in our ability to bring our community together to celebrate Pride this year. Their commitment to supporting integral LGBTQ+ community celebrations like ours is not only inspiring but has also provided stability for our organization, paving the way for the future."
The Crown & Anchor and Prouder Together will present The 9th Annual FlockFest Beach Party at Fort Lauderdale Beach. The mission of Flockfest, to raise both critical funds and essential awareness for local non-profit organizations, with a strong emphasis on championing the LGBTQ+ community, is so closely aligned with the genesis of Prouder Together and The Crown’s commitment to honor, support, celebrate, and elevate that an ongoing partnership between these three entities is under discussion.
“The Crown is proud to be a part of these incredible queer events and is honored to ensure Pride festivals around the country (and the world) are stable, accessible, and will continue to be celebrated for many years to come,” said Hawkins. “Together, we proudly stand up, speak out, and always honor, support, elevate, and celebrate each other!”
From July 7-14, join Flockfest, Key West, Puerto Vallarta, Wilton Manors, and Miami Beach for Prouder Together Week in Provincetown. Each of these Prouder Together partners and destinations on the ‘Spread Queer Cheer Tour’ will descend upon Ptown for an epic takeover of the Crown & Anchor with talent and programming, including the Prouder Together Follies, Drag Brunches, Broadway on the Beach, and so much more.
Select partners of the Prouder Together Initiative include the Provincetown Business Guild (PBG), the Key West Business Guild, Aquaplex, Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week, La Te Da, Mantamar, The Gaythering, and the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.
Visit proudertogether.org for a full list of the Prouder Together partners, to get involved, and to support the stabilization and strengthening of Pride celebrations. A 501c3 application is pending approval for Prouder Together.
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