Boston rally, vote calls for codifying LGBTQIA2S+ Office amid national rights rollbacks
The office, created by a Wu executive order, existed, until Wednesday's council vote, solely at the discretion of future mayors. 'In order for us to be a sanctuary city, we need protections in place,' Santana told the Globe. 'Codifying the LGBTQIA2S+ office ensures it stays here — no matter who the mayor is.'
Speakers invoked the threats facing queer and trans people nationwide. The Trump administration has moved swiftly to
Advertisement
'This year, we want to make a statement,' Santana said. 'People are living in fear. People don't feel safe.'
City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana (right) listened to Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during a speech in the City Council chamber at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Wednesday.
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
For many in attendance, the stakes are deeply personal.
Lauretta Hearn, a member of the Transgender Veterans Support Group, said recent federal policy changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which halted gender-affirming surgeries for transgender veterans, have already taken a toll on their family.
Advertisement
'I'm worried about my stepmom — she's 72. She's been transitioning for almost 30 years,' Hearn said. 'She feels not seen, and she gets upset because medically she can't do the surgeries, but the hormones make her still feel like she can be a woman.'
Thepeer-led group offers virtual support spaces for trans veterans and their families across the country. Hearn, who co-hosts a weekly family and allies group, said they've seen the direct effects of recent care restrictions in Massachusetts and beyond.
Boston, MA. 05/29/2025 - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence members Sister Stella Tension-Hor (left) and Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) mingle at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on June 4, 2025. Boston City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana and over 45 LGBTQ+ organizations hosted a Pride rally, reception, and celebration in and outside of Boston City Hall. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff)
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Phoenix Lee, a transmasculine Boston resident, said he's also bracing for ripple effects. 'I'm worried that my legal documents won't match up and I'll be penalized. I'm on MassHealth, and I'm scared that my hormones or gender-affirming care will be taken away,' he said.
Still, Lee said he felt fortunate to live in a state with stronger protections than most.
'I call it the Massachusetts bubble. I'm so grateful to be able to be visible without fear,' he said.
Many who attended demanded lasting change.
Kimberly Rhoten, director of policy and strategic initiatives in the Mayor's LGBTQIA2S+ office, said the council's vote is about more than symbolism.
'Right now, our office exists only by executive order. Codifying it into law makes it one step harder to remove us,' Rhoten said. 'Most other offices in our cabinet are already codified. We're one of the last.'
They added that the office is already on the front lines of a public health crisis affecting LGBTQIA2S+ residents, particularly youth.
Advertisement
'Youth who identify as queer are far more likely to contemplate suicide, to experience housing instability, and to engage in substance use,' Rhoten said. 'These issues existed before the election. But now we're seeing ripple effects that are going to make it worse.'
In response, the office has expanded its grantmaking and policy advocacy. Each year, it distributes $150,000 in 'Beyond Pride' grants to dozens of local organizations working on everything from emergency housing to gender-affirming sports leagues. A recent initiative provided $50,000 to the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition to support name and gender marker changes on legal documents, Rhoten said.
'We're focused on helping our residents, not just survive, but thrive,' Rhoten said.
LaNiesha Bowles listened to speakers at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza.
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Joy, too, played a central role in the rally.
Coley Kelly, an 82-year-old member of Boston Prime Timers, a social group for older gay, bisexual, and transgender men, said the event was a sign of progress.
'I think that the LGBTQ movement has been transformed over the years to be more socially acceptable — to be who you are, whenever and wherever you want to be.' He added, 'I'm confident that the movement and the acceptance of gay life is going to continue, because just about every family now either has or knows someone who's gay.'
Freddie Anne Willing, abbess of the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer activist and performance group known for using satire and spectacle to fight bigotry and support marginalized communities, urged the crowd to stay loud, visible, and unapologetically joyful.
'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we are complacent,' she said. 'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we're not angry. If it takes a little spite for you to be joyful — well, maybe that's Boston in 2025.'
Advertisement
Flags are held aloft at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on Wednesday.
Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
In Morro Bay, the decision to fly — or not fly — the Pride flag is political
June is Pride Month, a time when we dust off our rainbow flags and don our regalia in celebration of decades of triumph over adversity. We commune with our siblings and allies to mark progress and honor those who came before us in brave elegance and hearty aspiration. There are moments of great joy and celebration, but also times of marked solemnity. Pride is a time of family and remembrance, but also a time to regroup and map the work that still needs to be done. When news broke that Morro Bay planned its final Pride flag raising, we shared a message on our business website encouraging folks to attend the proclamation earlier this week. Almost immediately, someone left a crude and loathsome response. Over the past calendar year in San Luis Obispo County, we have witnessed an alleged anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime death, along with several assaults and acts of vandalism rooted in queer hate. In the Southern U.S., we've heard preachers openly calling for the execution of LGBTQ+ individuals. And now, the current president has re-centered focus on making LGBTQ+ people once again targets of scorn and contempt. This is the backdrop that makes it clear: The decision to rescind Morro Bay's Pride flag ordinance did not happen in a vacuum. When City Councilmember Jeff Eckles publicly called for the removal of the ordinance that allows the Pride flag to fly, he offered scant and misleading justifications. Those justifications rang hollow as speaker after speaker faced the dais and systematically dismantled every point. Attempting to persuade the audience that his actions were rooted in the rosy ideal of 'neutrality,' the council member's words failed to resonate with the packed room of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. It was a shameful insult to recast the rainbow Pride flag — a symbol that has stood for inclusion, affirmation and acceptance for nearly 50 years — as something divisive or exclusionary. Calling it a step toward 'tribalism' is disingenuous at best. It is intellectually dishonest to argue that allowing three council members to decide whether a symbol of unity and inclusion may fly is somehow a 'gross overreach of government.' If so, wouldn't removing it by that same process also constitute overreach? What is the point of representative government if not to represent all the people? While cities across the state and country are expanding Pride visibility, how is it that our small town of 10,000 cannot find the courage to take a principled stand in support of roughly 10% of its population? The Pride flag pushes back against the long history of violence, exclusion and discrimination that LGBTQ+ people have endured — and still endure. The claim that this decision affects all commemorative flags, not just the Pride flag, falls apart under scrutiny. No other flag has been requested to fly. And we've heard the same tired false dilemmas: 'What if someone wants to fly the Nazi or Confederate flag?' Well, there is a process, and the council votes on each request. If the council cannot distinguish between a flag that honors inclusion and one that glorifies violence and genocide, we have a much deeper problem than flag policy. We are not asking for rainbow crosswalks or high-dollar lighting displays. We are simply asking that the Pride flag continue to fly for one month out of the year to show that our town supports and represents all of its residents and visitors. The council has now rescinded the ordinance and chosen to limit flags to the Morro Bay flag, the state flag and the American flag. Some who spoke in favor of the decision said they wanted to return to 'unity under the American flag.' But here is the rub: the Stars and Stripes have not always symbolized unity. For many, they have represented prejudice, bullying and violence. Now, more than ever, the U.S. flag divides in new ways. Over the past decade, it has increasingly come to represent one political party. Often, it flies alongside banners promoting a leader who has actively worked to strip away protections and freedoms from the LGBTQ+ community — freedoms that should be guaranteed under that very flag. Unity under one banner sounds like a noble idea. But until we have a shared definition of liberty and equality, the Rainbow Pride flag must continue to fly. It is not a substitute for the American flag, it is a bridge that spans the divide between our country's promises and the lived reality of many of its people. Until the Stars and Stripes can fulfill their promise for everyone, the rainbow must remain. Aimee Brantley is a resident and business owner in Morro Bay.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sacramento Pride must be safe from all forms of hate, including antisemitism
As a former Sacramento City council member and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, I've seen how Pride Month transforms our city each June. It's a celebration of resilience and identity — but it's also a test of our values. Three years ago, I witnessed something unforgettable at Pride events in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. There, in spaces often surrounded by tension, I saw Israelis, Palestinians, Christians, Jews and Muslims marching side by side. Many of them were people who could not safely be 'out' or open about their sexuality or gender identity in their own communities or countries of origin. Pride, in those moments, erased the artificial walls that hold back peace. It became a sanctuary for truth, vulnerability and shared dignity. That vision of solidarity in the face of difference is exactly what we must protect. Yet, this year, as Sacramento prepares to celebrate Pride, I write with deep concern. Since the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, queer Jews have faced growing exclusion from Pride events across the country. Participants have been asked to hide Jewish symbols or avoid acknowledging their identities altogether. These aren't isolated misunderstandings — they're symptoms of a growing, troubling erosion of inclusion, even within our own community. And the consequences are real: Two weeks ago, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following a peace-focused diplomatic event. That site — a symbol of both Jewish and LGBTQ+identity — was targeted in an act of hate. And now, a man in Boulder, Colo. is facing a federal hate crime charge after injuring 12 people using a makeshift flamethrower at a Jewish community event earlier this week. These violent acts are devastating reminders of what's at stake when fear and exclusion replace solidarity. Pride should never require anyone to hide who they are — not their sexuality, gender, religion or ethnicity. Inclusion that censors identity isn't inclusion, it's discrimination. True Pride embraces complexity and affirms that diversity is not a liability, but a strength. To be clear: Criticism of any government, including Israel's, is entirely legitimate. But demanding that LGBTQ+ Jews disavow their identities or their right to express them as a condition of inclusion is not activism, it's bigotry. It undermines the very foundation of Pride and the LGBTQ+ movement itself. Sacramento must lead differently. During my time on the city council, we worked hard to ensure that Sacramento remained inclusive and just. Sacramento Pride has long reflected those values — uplifting communities, celebrating intersectionality and advocating for everyone pushed to the margins. We must not let that commitment waver. That's why I'm proud to partner with A Wider Bridge, an organization building solidarity between LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities, while creating space for Palestinians, Muslims and people of all backgrounds to engage in authentic dialogue. This work is a reminder that Pride can hold all of us — if we let it. To the organizers of Sacramento Pride: Your leadership matters. Please reaffirm that everyone, including queer Jews, are welcome to fully express who they are. Allow all participants to wave their flags, wear their symbols and share their truths proudly and safely. Listen to the concerns being raised. Vet speakers with care. Build programming that reflects dignity, not division. And to Sacramento's LGBTQ+ community: This is a time for clarity and compassion. We must stand firmly against antisemitism, just as we stand against all forms of hate. Solidarity means standing together, even when it's difficult. Let Sacramento Pride this year be more than a celebration. Let it be a recommitment to each other, to safety and to the radical promise that no one should ever be asked to hide who they are. Steve Hansen is a former Sacramento City council member and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ equality, social justice and inclusive public policy.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands march in Romania demanding LGBTQ equality
BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Romanians joined an LGBTQ Pride march in Bucharest on Saturday, demanding civil union partnership legislation and equal rights after a highly-contested presidential election last month buoyed the far right. The European Union state has so far ignored a 2023 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which found Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the EU, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. "We want legal protection for same-sex couples, an easy legal procedure for transitioning, protection against hate speech and prejudice-based crimes," said Teodora Roseti, president of Romanian LGBTQ rights organisation ACCEPT and Pride's organiser. In Bucharest, marchers danced and carried the rainbow flag 20 years after the first Pride parade was held, carrying banners such as "Love is the worst feeling you could hate", "Equality in love, equality in inheritance. Civil partnership for all". Roughly 30,000 people attended the parade, ACCEPT estimated. The march comes at a fraught moment in Central and Eastern Europe, where far right parties have gained ground. Poles held a similar parade on Saturday. Hours before the Romanian march, a smaller anti-Pride protest took place, with participants demanding an Orthodox Christian nation and waving flags carrying the Celtic cross, a known far-right symbol. In Romania, centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan ultimately won the presidential election against hard-right opposition leader George Simion, a strong opponent of LGBTQ rights. ACCEPT and LGBTQ rights group Mozaiq warned of a rise in hate speech against the community during the election campaign, and their headquarters were defaced. In neighbouring Hungary, parliament passed legislation earlier this year that de facto bans holding Pride marches.
