By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The first annual Lynnfield Pride Celebration will take place on Saturday, June 4 from 4-6 p.m. on the Town Common.
The Lynnfield High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Lynnfield for Love are organizing the town’s first ever Pride Celebration. LGBTQ+ Pride Month was originally founded to honor the Stonewall Riots that took place in New York City in 1969. Pride Month also celebrates the extensive and ongoing work of many individuals and groups seeking equality for LGBTQ+ Americans.
Lynnfield for Love Treasurer Wendy Dixon said the Pride Celebration will include a variety of activities for people of all ages.
“The event will include brief speakers, music, fun craft activities for all ages, face painting, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, vendors selling handmade items, education stations, the library’s book nook, a Yogibo Zen Zone and refreshments,” said Dixon. “We will honor the community by Select Board member Dick Dalton reading the Town Pride Proclamation, and we will raise the Progressive Pride Flag. There will be rainbow themes everywhere.”
LHS English teacher Joey Puleo said Lynnfield for Love “reached out to the high school GSA to gauge interest in helping” organize the celebration.
“We had an overwhelming response,” said Puleo, who is the club’s advisor. “Our members were eager to participate in an event that is so important to them and to the community as a whole.”
Lynnfield for Love Social Media and Website Manager Jeana Tecci said it was incredibly important that, “This event be led by the LGBTQ+ community.”
“Involving the LHS GSA gave us, a group of moms, insight into what teenagers want from a community event,” said Tecci.
Dixon agreed.
“We are excited to collaborate with the LHS GSA to allow them to see their vision come to life,” said Dixon.
Sadaf Weisenfeld, who is Lynnfield for Love’s vice president, said both organizations “feel like we’re pulling off something momentous.”
“Lynnfield for Love has held several community events over the past five years, and our following has steadily grown with each year,” said Weisenfeld. “Lynnfield Pride has drawn out more volunteers and interest than we’ve seen before, which is amazing. We have unwavering support from the Select Board, School Committee and countless neighbors. We feel a heartwarming sense of unity in this mission.”
Tecci concurred with Weisenfeld’s sentiment.
“There is so much excitement and enthusiasm,” said Tecci. “Inclusivity and diversity are core values of Lynnfield for Love. When people talk about diversity and inclusivity, people’s thoughts tend to jump to race, but it’s so much more than that. It’s LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, age, etc.
Giving people who are LGBTQIA+ a chance to be represented in Lynnfield is long overdue.”
Dixon said the Lynnfield Pride Celebration’s activities are “based on input from students and adults living in Lynnfield who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.”
“Educating our community is always a goal of Lynnfield for Love, so we have secured resources from different organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community such as the North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth (NAGLY),” said Dixon.
Lynnfield for Love member Vicky Blanco, who is a member of the Lynnfield Pride Planning Committee, said the celebration seeks to support the LGBTQ+ community.
“We want to send the message of allyship and support to the LGBTQ+ community in our town,” said Blanco. “We also want to provide an example of change in action for surrounding towns to follow.”
Dixon said, “The goal is showing the Lynnfield LGBTQ+ community that love wins.”
“We are all coming together to support and celebrate love that comes in all forms,” said Dixon.
Lynnfield Pride Planning Committee member Kathryn Price said the event is “an opportunity for our community to both show our support for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly Lynnfield’s youth who identify as part of this community.” She also said the celebration will teach residents about the history of Pride.
“At a time when so much is happening in our country focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s imperative that we show our support and respect for our neighbors, most particularly for our children, who need to know that we are in their corner,” said Price.
Dixon said working closely with the LHS GSA has “absolutely been the most rewarding part of planning this event.”
“We want to show love for them and those in Lynnfield and surrounding communities that are part of the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Dixon.
Dixon also noted that Lynnfield for Love is raising funds for NAGLY.
“We have been selling T-shirts via the Bonfire website, and have raised over $200 so far,” said Dixon. “If people would like to purchase a T-shirt, they can go to our merchandise store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/lynnfield-for-love-merch/. All profits go directly to NAGLY. They are an invaluable support to LGBTQ youth on the North Shore.”
Weisenfeld said the Lynnfield Pride Celebration is being funded in part by a grant from the Lynnfield Cultural Council, which she noted is a town committee that is “distributing funds allotted by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.” She also said the event’s other two sponsors are MarketStreet Lynnfield and the Wakefield Co-operative Bank.
“We’re so thankful to all three,” said Weisenfeld.
Dixon urged the community to attend the Lynnfield Pride Celebration.
“We hope everyone will come out and show up,” said Dixon. “Packing the Town Common would be amazing, and would certainly send a message to our LGBTQ+ youth that they are valued and loved as a member of our community as they don’t always feel that way. The LHS GSA has planned some fun activities and festive music. We want people to have fun because it is first and foremost a celebration!”
Puleo agreed.
“We hope this event enforces the idea that Lynnfield is a welcoming and accepting community,” said Puleo. “Everyone should feel that they can be their true, authentic selves in Lynnfield. We embrace and celebrate all people.”
