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Springfield shows off its Pride at parade
SPRINGFIELD — Feathers, glitter, pride flags and festive looks filled the Springfield Technical Community College parking lot Saturday as the rain trickled down, accompanied by the thump of drums playing in the distance. The fourth annual Springfield Pride Parade was led by the families the parade organization serves through its Safe Space Program.
'Show up as who you are and not who you're not,' said a Springfield Public fifth-grade student, Darya Kahab, who has supported the parade for all four years. With a rainbow flag painted on her cheek, she smiled, thinking about how many people would come out to support this year's parade.
Despite the rain and cloudy sky, supporters still gathered around festively, ready to begin their mile walk from STCC down to Springfield City Hall.
MGM Springfield had a float designed with metallic fringe garlands, rainbow magnets, flags and handwritten hearts with notes that read, 'Love Wins!'
Julianne Surrette, one of the supporters in the truck, shared that their theme for the truck this year was 'sparkle and shimmer.' 'Our message behind it is to be yourself and to love yourself 100% all the time.'
Director of philanthropy and community engagement at MGM Springfield, Jennifer McGrath, said, 'It's an absolute honor to walk side by side with people who celebrate the beauty of this world that makes us different. We've participated every year since its infancy and will continue going strong.'
Taurean Bethea, founder of the Springfield Pride Parade Committee, said that the You Ball Gala and Pride Parade are held to support the Safe Space Program, which is currently in place in six Springfield Public Schools.
The program offers year-round support for LGBTQIA+ youth in Springfield, combining the opportunities of summer and after-school programming with ongoing support. Designed for students in grades 6-12, the program aims to build community, fosterg leadership and nurture resilience, creating a safe and supportive environment to support every student to thrive emotionally, socially and academically.
'We need to be a lot louder and reach more of the youth and LGBTQIA community. Our goal this year is to be loud and proud and bring back the essence of what pride is,' said Bethea.
Caicy Welz, a Springfield educator and member of the Springfield Education Association, marched with the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She shared that she felt a sense of contagious happiness from the crowd while waiting to begin. As a lifelong Springfield resident and teacher in the city, it feels great to come out and support the LGBTQIA+ community.
'My goal has always been inclusivity in my classes, school and district as a whole. Having students be able to see themselves reflected and see that their teachers support and validate them,' Welz said.
Anyone looking to support the Safe Space Programs can do so by visiting their website at
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Read the original article on MassLive.
