Pittsfield — For the next month, the American flag adorning the City Hall grounds will have a companion. The LGBTQIA+ Pride Flag was added to the city’s flagpole in a Wednesday, May 31 ceremony that officially kicked off June’s LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with a proclamation by Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer to representatives of Berkshire Pride.
According to its website, the nonprofit organization aims “to provide safe spaces and events where LGBTQIA+ community members can live and thrive as their authentic selves.”
“We want to make sure people can come together, including LGBTQ+ people and their allies, to celebrate the whole month of June as Pride Month,” Berkshire Pride President and Executive Director Cass Santos-China said. “Having the Mayor do this proclamation just says to the whole community, ‘We’re safe here.’”
Berkshire Pride Vice President Michael Taylor addressed the crowd assembled on the closed street. “Our flag is a vibrant representation of the strength, resilience, and diversity of our community,” Taylor said. “It embodies the struggles and the triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout history. It reminds us of the activists who fought tirelessly for the freedoms we enjoy today. It is a powerful testament to the progress we have made in embracing equality and inclusivity.”
Bursts of applause and cheers rang out during Taylor’s speech as he acknowledged the crowd that included local elected officials as well as city and business employees. “This is a statement of support in solidarity with our community,” he said of the flag-raising event that began in 2017. “When I see this flag flying here as it has the past seven years, it’s a statement that our city is welcoming and that people can walk into our buildings and be their authentic selves without fear of prejudice or discrimination.”
Thanking Tyer for her commitment to Berkshire Pride, Taylor reminisced about her immediate “yes” to flying the Pride Flag at City Hall and providing a proclamation ceremony in support of Pride Month when requested by Berkshire Pride years ago. The group honored Tyer, who is not running for reelection this year, with a plaque commemorating her support. “When we had our first festival at the Pittsfield Common and Mayor Tyer joined Berkshire Pride dancing on the main stage, I can remember her saying, ‘We need a parade,’” Taylor said. “And we have a parade now.”
The 2023 Pride Parade is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 3 at The Common Park. Last year’s parade featured 15 participants marching and about 120 vendors at the park, Santos-China said. This year, the event has grown to 45 participants and more than 150 vendors, she said. An inaugural after-party on the evening of June 3 is featured among other Berkshire Pride Fest celebrations through June 4.
“Today and every day, we stand with the LGBTQIA community to recognize their social, economic, creative, and cultural contributions to our society,” Tyer said. “And, let’s be clear. The LGBTQIA+ community needs us, all of us, to stand in the breach, to fight against the unwinding of their rights, against the violence perpetrated upon them, and against the bullying experienced by children and young adults who strive mightily to grow into their full and authentic selves.”
Tyler said, “The theme for the 2023 Berkshire Pride Fest is ‘Every Day is Pride,’ giving a nod to the need for education and awareness. Here in Pittsfield, as we prepare to raise the Pride Flag, all are welcome, all are respected, everyone is entitled to and supported in achieving their highest potential. Simply put, love wins.”
