Ever since the beginning of the Pride movement, LGBTQ people have been engaged in a spirited conversation about what Pride is, or ought to be. This conversation has long been dominated by two contending notions: Pride as celebration versus Pride as socio-political demonstration. Yet, the issue with proceeding along such binary lines is that it does not acknowledge that Pride festivities and socially transformative actions are not mutually exclusive things. In fact, with Boston Pride, not only are they complementary, they often coexist in one and the same event. While Boston Pride is best known as the organizer of Pride Week, the organization offers a number of year-round programs for our community, including recurring annual offerings (Black Pride, Latinx Pride, Youth Valentine’s Dance, Community Fund) and special events. In its programming, Boston Pride constantly seeks new ways to harness the dynamics of celebration for the benefit of social change efforts. What follows is a brief presentation of three events or programs that Boston Pride organized in 2017-2018, each of which demonstrate that festivities can also be occasions for meaningful change.
Queer youth lovingly decorate duffle bags, to be filled with personal items and delivered to teens at Waltham House, with rainbows and other LGBTQaffirming motifs. Credit: Boston Pride.
Hurricane Relief Fundraisers for LGBTQ Puerto Ricans tangible assistance to fellow queers in Puerto Rico, please visit Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in mid-September www.bostonpride.org/pr. 2017, left in its wake unprecedented devastation and suffering for well over one million people. While natural disasters of this magni- Boston Youth Pride Designs Personal Duffle Bags for tude take a heavy toll on every member of the population, they pres- LGBTQ Teens at Waltham House ent additional difficulties for people who belong to underserved or Boston Pride hosted its fifth Youth Valentine’s Dance on at-risk groups. Large-scale disaster relief efforts are not generally at- February 24, 2018 at City Year. The event, which provides a safe, aftuned to, or concerned with, handling the specific needs of these firming space for queers and allies under the age of 21 to party togroups, including LGBTQ folks. gether, drew a diverse, energetic crowd from all over Greater Boston. In an effort to address this issue – and in response to a direct appeal This year, in addition to enjoying live DJ entertainment, youth for assistance from Waves Ahead, a Puerto Rico-based LGBTQ or- attendees were treated to games of beanbag toss and an arts and crafts ganization – Boston Pride dedicated its table. The table activities drew great inannual #GivingTuesday and year-end terest – especially the hand decoration of giving campaigns to raising money for In its programming, Boston personalized duffle bags to be gifted to critical relief for queer survivors of HurLGBTQ youth residents of Waltham Pride constantly seeks new ricane Maria. House. In addition to these online fundraisA pioneering institution, Waltham ways to harness the dynamics ers, Boston Pride and Boston Latinx House is New England’s first group Pride partnered with Club Café Boston home specifically dedicated to serving of celebration for the benefit to organize a community brunch, with LGBTQ teens aged 14-18, many of proceeds benefitting Waves Ahead, of social change efforts. whom endure hardships on account of which took place Sunday, December 17, their sexual orientation or gender iden2017. Guests enjoyed a delicious array of tity, and to preparing youth for reunifidishes as they were treated to live drag performances by Verna Tur- cation with their families, placement into foster care, or self-sufficient bulence, Tiny Williams, Pandora Seecret’s, Bokita, Kris Knievil, and adult living. Kamden T. Rage, as well as the Latin American acoustic stylings of The great generosity of TJX Pride Members enabled Boston Master Troubadour. Youth Pride to stock the duffle bags with helpful items, such as artiIn a moving show of solidarity with LGBTQ Puerto Ricans, the cles of clothing, blankets, earbuds, journals and pens, playing cards, Boston Pride community came out in force to support these fundrais- board games, TJX gift cards, and more. ing drives. To date, over $10,000 in donations has already been raised Boston Pride is #WickedProud of our community’s youth, who and transferred to Waves Ahead. To learn more about the very real came together on Valentine’s Day not only to celebrate but also to impact these donations made, see the Points of Pride infographic on show some love for fellow Bay State teens in need. page 18. That said, it has been months since the hurricane pummeled the Annual Boston Pride Community Fund island, and Puerto Ricans are still struggling to recover with diminRecognizing a shortage in sources of funding dedicated specifiishing material support from federal agencies. At the time of writing, cally to the work of small local grassroots organizations, Boston Pride many areas still lack electricity and/or steady access to clean sources instituted the Community Fund in autumn 2015. Since its inception, of water. Accordingly, Boston Pride has extended its 2017 year-end the Fund has been giving back to queer communities in Greater fundraising campaign, and will continue to accept donations to ben- Boston, through individual organizational grants up to $2,000 per efit the on-the-ground services of Waves Ahead. To offer annum. #WickedProud | 75
