Springfield holds fourth annual Pride Parade

Yahoo

4 hours ago

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Springfield held its fourth annual Pride Parade in its downtown region.
'Loud and proud' pride celebrations come from a history rooted in oppression. Back in the early 1900s, same-sex acts were illegal in every state except Illinois, and businesses were shut down for employing or serving gay people.
Springfield Pride Parade annual 'You Ball' benefits LGBTQ+ youth
In June of 1969, there were a series of riots, protests, and police raids in New York City, particularly outside the Stonewall Inn. Years later, it caught the attention of U.S. presidents to make this month official to support LGBTQ+ rights.
'It means support, it means love, it means being loud, it means get your message out there and tell the world who you are and be unapologetic about it,' said Taurean Bethea, Executive Director of the Springfield Pride Parade Organization. 'It's still a work in progress, and we still have a long way to go, but I think it starts with things like this.'
That is why the Springfield Pride Parade Committee used its annual pride parade to raise money for local programs serving the youth. The Safe Space program is currently in six Springfield Public Schools as an after-school program. In the next year, the committee hopes to expand it to the everyday curriculum.
'We have to shape our next generation of leaders and make sure they know that they have the support,' Bethea said. 'That they can get out there and take risks, and just go big, to really change the world.'
The parade kicked off at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).
'Our middle name is 'community,' and pride is community,' said Traci Wolfe, Assistant Vice President of Advancement at STCC.
The rain didn't stop anyone from marching down State Street and into Stearns Square. There were nearly 40 organizations present, and people from across the Pioneer Valley stopped by to show their support.
'Pride means to me just everyone getting together, staying true to oneself, and just being out and being proud about it,' said Taylor Scannapieco of Chicopee.
Pride events are set to continue across western Mass. throughout the month of June. A full list of upcoming local parades and activities can be found here.
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