N. Hempstead raises Pride flag at town hall

BY CAMERYN OAKES

The Town of North Hempstead raised the rainbow flag for the third year at town hall Tuesday evening as part of the town’s Pride event and kicking off the month of June as Pride Month.

The town hosted a Pride event on the town hall’s front lawn, narrowly missing the evening rain, and off ered rainbow cookies, refreshments and hand-held pride fl ags to the community members partaking.

The town hall was also lit up in rainbow colors for the Pride celebration, which will stay for the next week.

“The Town of North Hempstead is an extremely diverse place, and that is one of our greatest assets,” Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “Because of our diversity, we’re in the position to be leaders in the fight against intolerance and bigotry.”

North Hempstead partnered with local LGBTQ+ organizations including the LGBT Network, PFY and Be the Rainbow. All three were presented with proclamations from the town acknowledging their work in the community.

President and founder of the LGBT Network David Kilmnick shared at the event the struggles he faced in founding the Long Island Pride celebration three decades ago.

Kilmnick said that 33 years ago he was one of four people who sought to establish a Pride parade in Long Island.

They applied to several towns to host their parade but were denied by all of them.

Kilmnick said the Town of Huntington denied their application as they were “not traditional people.” But this didn’t stop them – they were going to march no matter what.

So Kilmnick and his fellow community members reached out to the New York Civil Liberties Union which took up their case and helped them secure their win in establishing the parade in Huntington four days before it was scheduled.

Now they will return to Huntington on June 11 for their 33rd annual Pride parade.

“So 33 years later we are celebrating Long Island Pride again in Huntington this Sunday, but it’s something we should not take for granted,” Kilmnick said.

He referenced the struggle that it took to establish the annual Pride parade, as well as the struggles many LGBTQ+ people face today in regard to legislation and policies that are harmful. Kilmnick said it is important to continue supporting them.

“And we do that through celebrating Pride. We do that through flag raising,” Kilmnick said. “But we also have to remember, while

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