A group of teens pose under a rainbow balloon arch at the 2021 Longmeadow Pride Festival.
Reminder Publishing file photo
LONGMEADOW — In the fall of 2020, amidst the coronavirus pandemic and political upheaval, the Longmeadow Pride Alliance took to the Town Green to host its first celebration of LGBTQ+ people and their belonging in the wider community.
The Longmeadow Pride Festival was born. This year, the festival celebrates its fifth anniversary on Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“I’m not sure that it’s actually been growing every year, but we’ve been establishing a reputation,” said Elizabeth Morgan of the Longmeadow Pride Alliance. “By year five, people go, ‘Oh, the Pride Festival. Are we doing that again?’” For many, the festival has become a tradition. “We certainly have a lot of people who come every year,” Morgan said.
The festival is part entertainment and part education. There will be a stage hosting musical acts, dozens of craft vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. But about half of the booths lining the Town Green will be run by LGBTQ+ resources and nonprofits.
Morgan described the nonprofits as, “folks who are clearly interested in showing their support, whether specifically focused on serving the population or just want to let people know they’re inclusive and supportive.” A recently organized chapter of the Peace Flag Movement, which supports “every culture, race, spirituality, gender, sexuality, age and ability,” and works to uplift organizations standing for systemic change, will have a booth at the Pride Festival for the first time.
As an all-volunteer organization with a small core group of organizers, the Longmeadow Pride Alliance puts most of its time and effort into hosting the Pride Festival each year, although it also works to help organize the Pride Prom and help other inclusive organizations.
Financial considerations are one reason the alliance is limited in its scope. Morgan said the organization is open to seeking grants and sponsors to expand its impact. However, just as important as financial support, Morgan said the alliance needs volunteers. “I think that’s the name of the game with any nonprofit,” she said. The group “scrambles” to get volunteers for the Pride Festival each year and Morgan emphasized how grateful the group is to those people. However, she said attracting volunteers to work with the Pride Alliance year-round would help it to create more initiatives.
Morgan said she hopes the organization can continue to grow programs and activities, particularly in the current political climate. “Clearly, the state of Massachusetts has solid protections in place but certainly, in other places, there are people who are having their rights threatened,” she said. “Even if we are celebrating, it’s important to remember that there are places where people are having really intense struggles.” She said it is an opportunity for people to remind themselves, “Oh yeah, we do have some work to do.”
To learn more about the Longmeadow Pride Festival and the Longmeadow Pride Alliance, visit longmeadowpride.org.
