Raised the Progress Pride flag today at @fitchburgmass Riverfront Park with Fitchburg's Mayor, State Rep and myself from City Council there to support! Fidelity Bank MA frosty flyer gave away ice cream to supporters that came as well!
Pictured here is myself, organizer Anthony Bovenzi of Nowoco Pride and Tanya from Mass Equality.
🏳️🌈 Great showing at our Fitchburg's Pride festival; No Wo Co Pride on Saturday July 20, 2019! Even though it felt like 108 degrees 🔥☀️ outside there were still a good amount of people and a number of vendors.
I bought a sweet "Ally" pin which went perfectly with my speech that I was honored to be invited to speak as a councilor!
I spoke about how I am an Ally.... because being inclusive makes us stronger.
I am an Ally....because Diversity makes us stronger.
Was really great to have our Congresswoman Lori Trahan join us and speak for the need for equality and the work at the Federal level to achieve this...as well as have State Representative Natalie Higgins who has consistently supported almost all of No Wo Co Pride's events this past year. Nice to have Mayor DiNatale read a Mayoral proclamation and attend the event as well.
I've attended most No Wo Co Pride events over the year; from their kickoff at River Styx, to Drag Queen Bingo, Drag Queen Karaoke (of which they made Myself, Natalie and our significant others all lip sync wearing wigs! Natalie's fiancee Pete Haigis won with Cher...he crushed it...) and Drag Queen Storytime.
I'm excited and proud to be a part of a Fitchburg community that is so welcoming; that includes all people, all orientations, all identities.
It is important for me to be to be a vocal and present ally for the LGBT+ community because it was only 15 years ago that MA led the nation to legalize same-sex marriage...and it was only 1 year ago that transgender rights were threatened through a ballot question. I will be an Ally until they do not need an ally anymore....and then I'll still be an ally after that ;-)
I'm excited for next year's Pride events and anticipate normal temperatures, bigger turnouts, and a totally gay time. ;-)
Thanks to Anthony Bovenzi and Sally Powerz for leading the organizing and Josiah Richards for always fighting for inclusion, diversity and respect....and thanks to the others in the great large group of organizers!
