Flag raising inaugurates Boston Pride Week

City Councilors in attendance at kick-off event.

An enormous rainbow flag was raised in Government Center on Friday, June 4, marking the beginning of Boston Pride Week 2010, nine days of events and celebrations following the theme "40 Years: Riots to Rights."

In the five minutes before noon, people flooded the Center. Spectators sat on stone steps facing City Hall or took shelter from the summer sun under umbrellas. Neon fliers were handed out calling for support of the Transgender Civil Rights Bill. Signs, flags, and rainbow attire of all ilk dotted the crowd. Thumping dance music attracted the attention of curious tourists. Members of the Senior Pride Coalition stood proudly behind a banner bearing the same name.

While an absent Mayor Thomas M. Menino was the event's official host, several city councilors were in attendance, including City Councilor-At-Large Ayanna Pressley, City Council President Michael Ross, Councilor Salvatore LaMattina, City Councilor-At-Large Felix Arroyo, Councilor Maureen Feeney, and City Councilor-At-Large John Connolly.

Boston Pride Marshals Don Gorton and Grace Sterling Stowell of the Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Youth (BAGLY) stood behind the podium as Justin Holmes -- Boston's openly gay director of constituent engagement -- greeted the crowd on behalf of Menino. Mary Callanan opened the ceremony with a particularly stirring rendition of the National Anthem -- never had the lyrics "our flag" had more meaning for the LGBT community than when staring up at the rainbow flag that would soon reach the sky. "This promises to be an amazing week," Holmes said.

Wilfred Labiosa, Vice President of Boston Pride's Board of Directors, next took the podium. "A riot is the language of the unheard," Labiosa said, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He went on to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots that launched the LGBT movement, and called upon the crowd to "remember the brave pioneers [that went] before us." While the myriad accomplishments the LGBT community has achieved over the last 40 years should be lauded, Labiosa said, "We should not pretend that the struggle is over." He referred to "today's riots," and listed countries in which gays and lesbians are still far from equality. "We're not yet fully accepted," Labiosa said, and urged the audience to participate in "greater civic engagement to ensure full federal equality." Amidst applause, Labiosa closed his comments, saying, "We will never be silent again!"

Boston Pride Executive Director Keri Aulita -- on behalf of the entire organization -- accepted certificates of recognition from Holmes, on behalf of Mayor Menino. Certificates of recognition were also given to Stowell and Gorton, and one was given in the memory of Pride's Honorary Grand Marshal, the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

"We've accomplished so much," Stowell said after accepting the certificate. "We have so much more to accomplish." In the name of BAGLY -- which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary -- Stowell called to attention the importance of youth to the LGBT movement. "Young people have always been part of our community," she said, and recommended that the audience remember to include all parts of the LGBT community, specifically, "trans, homeless, people living with HIV, and people of color."

Don Gorton led the crowd to "look back on our collective past," after accepting his certificate of recognition. "Those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them," he said. "Change was not inevitable." Rather, the positive changes that mark the past four decades are the results of hard work, struggle, and dedication. "Activism has been our pathway to social change," Gorton said.

City Council President Mike Ross next stepped up to the podium, flanked by Arroyo, Pressley, Feeney, and LaMattina. He read from the conclusion of a resolution passed by the City Council in support of Pride Week and "in recognition of the importance of the fight against homophobia."

Holmes again took the podium, thanking Mayor Menino for his continued support of the LGBT community over the years. "He stood with us on the issues that matter," Holmes said, and read the Mayor's proclamation in support of Pride Week.

Members of the Boston Pride Committee and the City Council representatives then took turns cranking the handle that raised the rainbow flag while "Music" by Madonna played -- inspiring more than one City Councilor to dance a few steps while they waited their turn. Overwhelming applause erupted from the crowd as the flag reached its zenith, marking the beginning of Boston Pride's 40th anniversary.

Pick up the June 10 issue of Bay Windows to see more pictures from the flag raising!