Published June 24, 2021
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — There has been lot of firsts taking place in town this month.
At Monday night’s Select Board meeting — the first in-person meeting to be held since March of 2020 — the board voted to proclaim June 2021 as “Pride Month” in honor of the LGBTQ+ community.
The suggestion for the recognition was made by resident and local businesswoman Francine Coughlin who organized the town’s inaugural Pride Ride parade June 13. A large group of supporters and allies of all ages participated in the Pride Ride, which started and ended at Ipswich River Park after a brief circle through the center of town, escorted by two North Reading Police Department cruisers. The positive vibe and energy of the Pride Ride has inspired organizers to host it again next year.
Coughlin suggested the idea for the proclamation to Select Board member Rich Wallner who drafted it and brought it Select Board Chairwoman Kate Manupelli and the board for a vote Monday night.
The resolution passed 4-1. Although all members were wholeheartedly supportive of the idea, Select Board member Liane Gonzalez said she would prefer that veterans receive a full month of recognition first. She stated she had sought the advice of an aunt on this topic. Her aunt lives in Alaska and she is gay as well as a veteran. She said her aunt placed a higher priority on recognizing the status and plight of veterans before her identity as being gay.
None of the other members of the board saw a valid reason to delay the implementation of the proclamation. Select Board member Stephen O’Leary added that veterans are recognized with a national holiday in November and the town has veterans’ groups who could make a such a proposal to the board as well if they so chose.
The Pride Month proclamation reads: “Whereas we recognize June 2021 as Pride Month throughout the United States and the world, we are reminded of what makes our community great – our remarkable capacity to accept and embrace the lives of others, regardless of our differences. In this regard, we stand together with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community as they declare their pride in who they are and whom they love.
The LGBTQ community has worked tirelessly for respect, equality and their very right to exist.
While there has been remarkable progress towards acceptance and equality in recent years, members of the LGBTQ community still face an unacceptable level of discrimination. We must push back against those who threaten LGBTQ people, and we must continue to make the case that all human beings share something fundamental in common – all of us want to love and be loved.
Therefore, be it resolved; we are proud to support our LGBTQ community’s right to live their lives out loud. As we celebrate Pride, we must continue to demand equal rights for all.
Therefore, be it further resolved; the Select Board members do hereby proclaim June 2021 to be Pride Month for the LGBTQ community in North Reading, and therefore, be it further resolved; we encourage all residents to celebrate our proud and diverse LGBTQ community through a parade, decorations, and moral support that reflects well on our town in support of our LGBTQ neighbors; and we recognize LGBTQ residents whose influential and lasting contributions to our neighborhoods have made North Reading a vibrant community in which to live, work and play.” It was suggested that the bandstand on the town common could possibly be an area where rainbow colored lights could displayed in recognition of the month. Lights displayed there for other events, such as blue lights for Autism Awareness Month and the Support the Blue event last year, and clear lights for the Christmas holiday, are privately funded.
