Latest news with #TaureanBethea
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Seen @: Springfield Pride Parade, June 7, 2025
Hundreds marched in the 2025 Springfield Pride Parade on Saturday, June 7, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, despite rainy weather. This was the fourth pride parade in Springfield – the first parade welcomed more than 6,000 people to the city. 'This year is a little different because we are actually trying to take our messaging more national, so we're reaching out and expanding our reach overall,' Taurean Bethea, who is executive director and founder of the Springfield Pride Parade Organization, told The Republican. 'So, we're reaching into Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and really just trying to gather everybody within the region to come and celebrate and support.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield holds fourth annual Pride Parade
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. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Springfield Pride Parade annual ‘You Ball' benefits LGBTQ+ youth
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – As part of the 4th annual Springfield Pride Parade weekend a fundrasing gala is supporting and celebrating LGBTQ+ youth. The Pride Parade Committee's annual 'You Ball Fundraising Gala' took place at MGM Springfield. It gave people a chance to dress up in their best attire, enjoy live performances and auctions. All proceeds go towards the committee's 'Safe Space Program' which provides inclusive and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth across Springfield Public Schools. 'We're in some very trying times right now, so we need to make sure that our youth feel seen and supported, you know, and our Safe space program does just that. You know, it gives our youth the space to be free, be them, be unapologetically themselves. And we just want to make sure that we give them the tools not only to survive, but also to thrive,' said Founder of Springfield Pride Parade Committee, Taurean Bethea. The founder told 22News they're hoping to raise at least $100,000 to continue expanding the program. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Springfield Pride Parade Committee expands Pride festivities to support the youth
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Springfield kicked off Pride Month with a flag raising to lead up to a weekend full of events. Where to celebrate Pride Month in western Massachusetts June 5th through the 7th marks the 4th annual Springfield Pride Parade Weekend. This year, the Springfield LGBTQIA + community is using their voice to support the youth. Thursday's kick-off event included a Progressive Pride flag raised at City Hall, a proclamation read by Mayor Domenic Sarno, and remarks by city officials. The Pride Parade Committee told 22News that this weekend will be used to raise money for their safe space programs in Springfield public schools. The safe space programs give kids a safe, supportive, and inclusive space to grow, learn, and thrive in school and life. Right now, they're wrapping up their 3rd year working in 6 schools. In the next year, they're hoping to be in at least 10 more. 'It shows us coming together as a community, and it really shows our commitment to inclusion and supporting our LGBTQ+ youth,' said Taurean Bethea, Springfield Pride Parade Committee CEO. A list of the Pride events and ways to donate can be found here: Springfield Pride Parade Springfield Pride Parade WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield Pride Parade steps off this year in support of city's LGBTQIA+ youth
SPRINGFIELD — Show up, stand proud and let's make history together. That's the message of the fourth annual Springfield Pride Parade, which steps off next weekend amid a time that is tense and uncertain for the LGBTQIA+ community. 'Being a Black man of the community, those are two things that are truly under attack, people of color and the LGBTQ community,' Taurean Bethea, who is executive director and founder of the Springfield Pride Parade Organization, said. 'Springfield has just an array of different backgrounds and all types of people. We want to make sure that our youth feel seen and supported, especially in this time.' President Trump's second administration has set forth a flurry of executive orders, largely aimed at the LGBTQIA+ population, including the restriction of gender-affirming care and the removal of federal funding from organizations that support 'gender ideology.' The American Civil Liberties Union has reported a total of 588 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States as of May. While Massachusetts only accounts for five of those bills, the political atmosphere has many in the LGBTQIA+ community feeling tense and uncertain about the future. 'This is not the time for us to cower or be victims,' Bethea said. 'We need to stand up and be loud and proud and really hold our elected officials to account and make sure that they're taking care of our needs.' Bethea is a gay man. The idea for the first Springfield Pride Parade came from a hate comment that was posted his social media in 2017 about his sexual orientation. At the time, he was closeted. Now, he's loud and proud about who he is, and he wants to spread that message and encourage everyone to live who they are unapologetically. And this weekend in Springfield, there will only be joy, acceptance and above all, pride. The Springfield Pride Parade is not just a one-day event, but a weekend-long celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community in the region. It begins on Thursday, June 5, with a flag raising ceremony at Springfield City Hall at 10:30 a.m. and a youth community panel at Springfield Technical Community College from 1-3 p.m., featuring Springfield Pride Parade DJ Kenneth Kyrell. The You Ball gala will be held in MGM Springfield's Aria Ballroom the following night, June 6, starting at 6 p.m. The gala's theme is inspired by Studio 54, a former nightclub in Manhattan, and true to its name, the night will be full of sparkles, sequins and all things disco. General admission tickets are $200 and can be purchased on Springfield Pride Parade's website. Funds raised from the You Ball gala will support the Pride Parade organization's Safe Space program, an afterschool initiative to empower and provide a safe community for LGBTQIA+ youth in grades 6 to 12 in Springfield schools. 'It almost feels like we have to shield them to make sure that they still have their head held high and are confident, even in these very trying times,' Bethea explained. 'We really want to make sure that they know that they are our next generation, because there is going to be a lot of work to do.' The Safe Space program offers a combination of both summer and after-school programs year-round for LGBTQIA+ youth, including guest speakers, internships and leadership opportunities, advocacy workshops and more. Pride weekend culminates with the Pride Parade and downtown block party on Saturday, June 7. This is the fourth parade – the first parade was expected to have a turnout of 'around 500 people,' Bethea said, and they ended up welcoming more than 6,000 people into the city in that first year. The number has only grown since then, he said. 'This year is a little different because we are actually trying to take our messaging more national, so we're reaching out and expanding our reach overall,' Bethea said. 'So, we're reaching into Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and really just trying to gather everybody within the region to come and celebrate and support.' The result of which, Bethea hopes, will be an even bigger celebration this year. The parade steps off from Springfield Technical Community College at noon sharp, but if you're participating in the parade, plan to be there by 10 a.m. 'I'm very adamant about the 12 o'clock [step-off],' Bethea said with a laugh. Those interested in marching in the Springfield Pride Parade can register on the organization's website, Students interested in marching can reach out directly to their schools and programs. Everyone is encouraged to line the streets to Stearns Square and be 'loud and proud,' Bethea said. 'Everyone is welcome to march with us,' he said. 'We need as many people as possible because we have to make a statement this year.' Following the parade, a free block party will be held in Stearns Square from 1:30 to 6 p.m. The party will include food, vendors, live music by DJ Kenneth, and special guest Dawn Richards of Danity Kane, a 2000's R&B/pop group best known for songs like 'Damaged,' 'Show Stopper' and 'Ride for You.' 'Come out and let's make our pride loud a-f,' Bethea said. 'That's our theme this year. It's a pretty edgy kind of hashtag we're using, but I think now is the time for us to be loud.' For more information about Springfield Pride Parade events, visit Read the original article on MassLive.
