CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Queer Consortium announced two events to celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14.
The group will host a Pride Month flag raising event on Friday, June 13 at Chicopee City Hall Flag Plaza, 17 Springfield St.
Notable speakers being advertised to speak at the flag raising event include state Rep. Shirley Arriaga (D-Chicopee) and Chicopee Planning and Development Director Lee Pouliot.
In addition to the flag raising celebration, local Chicopee business, Horseshoes and Handgrenades, will be hosting a Pride flash tattoo event during the celebration.
Afterwards, there will be a tea dance at the Munich Haus in downtown Chicopee, 13 Center St.
The fifth annual Chicopee Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, June 14 from noon to 5 p.m. at Szot Park, 687 Front St.
It will once again take place at Szot Park after moving the event there two years to accommodate to the growing popularity.
The event is free, open to everyone and seeks to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, while recognizing the cruelty and struggles that they still endure.
Chicopee Queer Consortium Director and Chicopee Pride Committee member Emarie Leatherwood shared her feelings about the upcoming events.
She said, “Hosting the Chicopee Pride Festival and Pride Flag raising are truly an honor for the whole committee. These events are a unique opportunity to spread the love and joy that too many LGBTQ+ people don’t have. Given our current political environment, the visibility and rights of all LGBTQ+ individuals is essential to our freedom. LGBTQ+ individuals deserve to live freely without fearing for their lives.”
The event is free and open to everyone.
The Pride Committee has lined up exciting entertainment from high-energy Drag Queens and Kings, live musicians and poets. Chicopee Mayor John Vieau and state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) are also scheduled to speak and show their support.
Leatherwood wanted to thank a few organizations and groups before the event took place this year.
“With the support of the Chicopee mayor’s office and mayor, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Chicopee Cultural Council, our sponsors, vendors and volunteer, we strive to provide an all-inclusive experience that’s both educational and entertaining,” Leatherwood stated.
The Chicopee Queer Consortium and the Chicopee Pride Committee also said in a press release they would like to thank the city of Chicopee departments for their continued support, including the Chicopee Police and Fire departments, Parks and Recreation Department, Licensing Commission, Planning Department, city clerk and mayor’s office for their continued support.
“We would also like to thank the Mass Cultural Council and the Chicopee Cultural Council for supporting us for all these years,” the press release read.
The Chicopee Queer Consortium is a nonprofit organization whose main focus is to engage with and actively promote the LGBTQ+ community within the city of Chicopee and surrounding areas.
While celebrating diversity, the CQC also actively advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, understanding the journey toward equality is ongoing.
To learn more about the upcoming events or the organization, readers can reach out via email at Pride@ChicopeePride.com or ChicopeeQC@ChicopeeQC.com.
Readers can also visit their respective Facebook pages for more information.
