by Sara
“Intersect is an event for the community and by the community. That means putting the decision-making power into the hands of the community to help shape it’s future”
WHAT does it mean to honor the legacy of those we’ve lost? It can look different for everyone. Maybe it’s a memorial garden or charitable giving. Perhaps it’s a family dinner or a digital tribute.
For the organizing team of Intersect: A Pride Arts Festival, we grappled with this question — and sometimes still do — as we figured out the future of this queer festival.
Founded by the late Mickey Harmon and originally known as Exist (produced by both Mickey and Miss Vidalia May), Intersect is an annual queer arts festival that takes place in Buffalo’s historic Allentown neighborhood.
When we tragically lost Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto in March of 2025, the Intersect team scrambled to figure out the next steps. Canceling Intersect was not an option. We knew we had to move forward.
But how?
How could we grieve a beloved community member while organizing a festival — something none of us had done before — all while juggling our day jobs? It was no small feat. The process was difficult and, at times, messy. But we made it happen.
We knew in our hearts that the only option was to honor Mickey’s legacy by figuring it out — and fast. Not just for Mickey and Jordan, but for the queer community of Western New York.
One year later, as I write this in March 2026, Intersect is ready for its next iteration. To stay true to Mickey’s vision, we want it to be as queer and inclusive as possible. Honoring Mickey’s legacy means making Intersect a festival for everyone.
Performers and artists of all mediums from across Western New York are welcome to participate.
To make the festival even more community-centered, we created a performer committee so the performances audiences see at Intersect are curated by members of the community itself.
Intersect is an event for the community and by the community. That means putting decision-making power into the hands of the community to help shape its future.
We want Intersect to evolve. We want this festival to continue beyond our years and eventually be passed down to future generations. The team today is simply planting the seeds for that future growth.
When we face difficult decisions, we often ask ourselves: What would Mickey do?
We don’t always have the answers. But we try to lead with the same values Mickey championed — radical inclusivity, creativity, and community. Mickey believed queer art should take up space —loudly, unapologetically, and in community. So that’s what we’re doing — taking up space, being loud and unapologetic, and honoring our community