Anyone who knows Mico Lucide knows he is a force of nature.
Not a destructive force like a hurricane or a tornado. He’s a relentless force like a flower insisting on blooming in a crack in the sidewalk or one ofthose Arctic penguins that balance an egg on their feet for weeks so his mate can hunt for food.
He just quietly, gently and humbly gets sh*t done for his community!
Plus, he does it all from planning meetings to boots on the ground in the sweltering heat in a festive linen suit complete with a snappy bow tie.
Perhaps boots on the ground is the wrong term. I’ve never seen him in anything more casual than a wingtip.
Lucide has been tabling for his organization Atlantic County Queer Alliance, or ACQA, at dozens of local Pride events this month. But Atlantic County Pride in the Park is his baby. He and his team has worked tirelessly to put on the daytime, family-friendly, free event that will go off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
There are permits, there are grants, there are as they say, “herding cats” of all shapes and sizes. One thing you can count on is that he does it all with a smile.
BreakingAC was able to ask a few questions from this admirable taskmaster about the ever-growing event now in its third year and about the man behind the Pride.
BreakingAC: What is Atlantic County Pride in the Park?
Mico Lucide: Atlantic County Pride in the Park is a family-friendly, wholesome celebration for our local LGBTQIA+ community. It brings together resources, supportive vendors, allies and community members to celebrate Pride Month in a safe, welcoming space without shame or fear.
BAC: What made you want to take on such a big project?
ML: When we started this, there was nothing like it in our region. We saw a need that needed to be filled. Since that first event, we’ve seen two other Pride festivals in this region crop up. Both of which we’ve had the honor to support and help organize.
This sincere, organic interest in supporting South Jersey’s LGBTQIA+ community is the only motivation we need. It’s so fulfilling to see the work we do flourish in ways we weren’t anticipating.
BAC: Why you? What made you get involved in leading queer advocacy?
ML: I’ve always led my life with a simple saying. “If I don’t, who will?” If I see a need, and I do nothing to try to address it, then I am exacerbating that need with my inaction.
Our community, especially here in South Jersey, has a deep need for resources, services, connection, and safety. How can I look at that and just wait for someone else to address it?
I have been fortunate enough to have developed skills and contacts that enable me to step up when something needs to be done; it’s my job now to provide those skills and contacts to others to empower them to do the same.
BAC: How did this event, now in its third year, come about?
ML: I love this story. Before the Atlantic County Queer Alliance existed, we were involved with Pride in Mays Landing. Pride in Mays Landing is a casual group that gets together occasionally for brunch or happy hour.
At one of our brunches, one of the members, Jason Dean, voiced something along the lines of, “wouldn’t it be cool to have a Pride parade in Mays Landing?” We all went “yeah… that would be a lotta work. But that would be pretty cool.” Another member, Melissa Tomlinson, now ACQA’s Deputy Director, said “I know of a grant we might be able to look into.” We all kind of just nodded and went back to eating.
At our next brunch, Melissa shows up and says, “We got the grant. What are we doing?” Three months later, we held the first annual Atlantic County Pride in the Park.
BAC: What makes this festival different from other Prides?
ML: We were very intentional about this being a family-friendly Pride festival that’s local, smaller, welcoming, fun and centered around the resources and organizations that support our local LGBTQIA+ community.
We have not accepted corporate funding for this event in our first three years. We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to fund this event with a grant that has covered our costs.
BAC: What organizations are involved?
ML: For starters, I have to give credit where it is due. This event would not exist without Pride in Mays Landing bringing together the folks who wanted to see it happen and had the drive to make it happen. I give credit to Julie Kin and Pride in Mays Landing for getting it started.
Nowadays, the event is run by the Atlantic County Queer Alliance with the support and partnership of the Atlantic County Council of Education Associations. But it wouldn’t be possible without all of our amazing vendors and supporters.
BAC: Can you tell us about the venue?
ML: War Memorial Park in Mays Landing is a gorgeous little park with a fountain on the corner of Main Street and Route 50. It’s a phenomenal place to have an event like this, although we are beginning to outgrow the space.
BAC: Can you tell us about the key individuals involved?
ML: The main organizers are Melissa Tomlinson and me. We’ve been extremely fortunate this year to have an organizing committee and a team of volunteers to help us put the event together, which has made the whole process a lot easier to manage. AJ Dragoni, Lauree Klein, former Miss New Jersey for America Strong Courtney Rice, and Tory Crisostomo have been absolute rock stars helping out this year.
BAC: How difficult is it to plan an event like this?
ML: It takes months of preparation and planning. It takes a core team of deeply committed and capable people. It takes patience and “stick-to-itiveness”. It is difficult. But it is fun!
BAC: Has your social media and event postings been met with any homophobia?
ML: Not to any meaningful extent, I am relieved to say. We have been extremely fortunate.
BAC: What is the five-year plan for Pride in Park?
ML: Well, I don’t know how much I can say about that. But I can say that we expect this year to be something of a turning point for us. We are outgrowing our space. We have performers that want to participate. We have nearly doubled our vendors and attendees since our first year.
We will continue to prioritize LGBTQIA+ resources, organizations and businesses, and we will continue to focus on an accessible, family-friendly event. This will be changing, but we have a whole committee that needs to make those decisions. I don’t want overstep by speaking without them.
BAC: What is Mico's five-year plan?
ML: Wow. It’s hard for me to say. Because over the last half-year or so, my life has changed a lot. I lost my mother in November, and as her caregiver, she was a major focus for much of my adult life. Since her passing, and through a lot of grieving, I have realized I am at a point where I get to dictate my life in a way I haven’t been able to before. I am still figuring out what that is like for me. So my five-year plan is to learn what I want in my life, and pursue it ardently.
BAC: Anything else to add about your organization?
ML: The Atlantic County Queer Alliance has been one of the most enriching, fulfilling experiences of my life. To be able to give back to my community in a way that I have been dreaming about since my youth fills my heart with more joy than you can imagine. But there’s a lot of work ahead of us. We have no permanent queer spaces anymore.
To paraphrase my friend (and Atlantic City LGBTQ+ program coordinator) Judah Dorrington we have nowhere for us to be ourselves among our community when we are done with our day. Our community has lost our bars and our clubs. We have never had a center or a shelter here. Our community is, for lack of a better word, homeless. Somewhere to be among our community, with resources, services, events and programs with experts and friends.
I’m excited to say that the work to address this need has begun. Stay tuned.
If you would like to attend Atlantic County Pride in the Park on Saturday, you are welcome to come as you are between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no ticketing or registration. Remember, the first 250 attendees get a $15 voucher to use at the food trucks! Come out and be a part of the fun.
For more information, visit the event page or contact the Atlantic County Queer Alliance.
