The Lancaster Pride Arts and Entertainment Festival has changed venues.

The June 23 gay pride festival will not be held at Lancaster's Binns Park. Instead, it will be held at Millersville University's Student Memorial Center and the quad area directly across from SMC.

The festival changed locations after Lancaster city denied the organizers' application to rent Binns Park because it had not received a complete application and fees by the application deadline of May 23.

"We always had a couple of venues in mind," so the city's permit denial was not the end of the festival, said Barry Russell, one of the festival's organizers.

Russell said another festival organizer, Millersville University junior Molly Caldwell, secured the use of the university's facilities. Caldwell also is president of MU Allies, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered-straight  alliance at Millersville University.

Russell said he was "disappointed" that they were not able to work through the "technical difficulties" of the city's application process for events at Binns Park, "but we are moving forward."

Mayor Rick Gray said the Mayor's Office of Special Events denied the permit for Binns Park because the application and fees for the festival were not submitted by the deadline.

"We are trying to be consistent with our policies," Gray said.

Pat Brogan, the mayor's chief of staff, said the MOOSE staff reviewed the festival's application, but did not receive $550 in fees or proof of liability insurance by the deadline.

According to a memo from Brogan to Gray, the application lacked details on logistics, vendors, signs and other matters.

The MOOSE staff was concerned the organizers didn't have enough financial backing to pay for the estimated $7,375 in police/traffic control and streets and parks department services.

"We have an obligation to the city taxpayers to collect on fees and cover costs," Brogan said.

Had the completed permit, with all applicable fees, been given to the staff on time, then it would "absolutely" have been approved, she said.

"The fact that some would oppose this event makes it even more important that the first time be well-organized, well-funded and well-executed. We owe that to our city," Gray said.

Lancaster Pride Festival organizers said they hope the festival will help strengthen the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Lancaster, York and surrounding counties.

The festival will be held from noon to 8 p.m. June 23. Scheduled to perform in the student union building is Suzanne Westenhoefer, a nationally known gay comedian. DC Cowboys will perform before and after Westenhoefer.

Outside, the bands Take 147, Delta Jelly and Carmitchell Sisters, as well as members of the local drag community and spoken word artist Kristina Mellinger, will perform.

Also in the quad will be artists, craftspeople, nonprofit organizations, commercial vendors and food vendors.

Admission to the festival is a suggested donation of $5.

Donations and sponsorships for the festival can still be made, Russell said, by going to www.lancastergaypride.com or calling 380-1071.

Because of the nationally known performers, Russell said they are expecting to draw more than 1,000 people — many from outside the Lancaster area.

"I think we'll be pleasantly surprised by the turnout," he said.

Russell said festival organizers are still pursuing the possibility of holding the festival downtown next June for the 30th anniversary of the gay liberation movement.

"We hope to have a grand celebration," he said.

E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com