June marks LGBTQ Pride Month, and on Tuesday Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller met with residents and LGBTQ advocates on the lawn of City Hall to raise Newton’s Pride flag.
Fuller spoke about LGBTQ struggles, both past and present, in Newton and worldwide, and the queer icons in every community who have helped bend the arc of justice toward equality.
“Yes, we do gather proudly and resolutely to raise the Priode flag over the city of Newton in celebration and in support of our LGBTQ-plus family and friends and neighbors,” Fuller said. “We certainly raise the flag with gratitude for the brave pioneers who did have to struggle and sacrifice because they had to actually fight for love and justice.”
Joining her in front of the crowd and helping to raise the flag were two Newton North juniors, Rhiannon Esposito and Julia Dun Rappaport.
Rhiannon and Julia co-founded a queer culture Pride event, to be held for the second year on June 15, and both have worked within Newton schools to foster more inclusion for LGBTQ students.
“They are using their voice, their time, their talents, to try to make our community a more accepting and welcoming place,” Fuller said.
Pride Month evolved after the Stonewall Riots of late June 1969. After police in Manhattan raided the Stonewall Inn (a popular gathering place for LGBTQ New Yorkers), patrons and protesters fought back, and a riot ensued for two days.
Protests and marches followed, including a 1970 New York City march that’s known as the first Gay Pride Parade.
In 1978, the San Francisco mayor had a new flag commissioned to represent gay and lesbian pride, and the rainbow Pride flag was born.
Decades later, President Bill Clinton designated June to be Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. A decade later, President Barack Obama chose a new name for the month: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
More Photos: Newton Pride Flag Ceremony 2024
