Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
Resilience, Return, and Hope for Community
By 10 years old and while attending Catholic school, John Pivovarnick knew that he was gay. He did not feel comfortable coming out in Scranton, so he left for California where he learned quickly that he did not have the financial resources to support himself. He came back home and earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton.
Due to the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic and local hostilities against gay people, John moved to Philadelphia where he settled down with a partner for a decade, before his partner succumbed to AIDS. Drawn back to Scranton to care for his parents, John’s now been residing in the area since 1997, comparing his returns to the city to a “bad penny” relationship.
A local actor, John appreciates Scranton’s proximity to his work in New York City and Philadelphia and feels that Scranton is a “good place to have a family.” Despite receiving occasional vitriolic abuse regarding his sexual orientation, John’s hopes for Scranton and the United States are one and the same – people have to “take care of each other and be a country again.”
