Credit: Stanford Historical Society
Millions of people around the world will observe Pride Month during June, commemorating the global LGBTQ community with parades, picnics and parties in what amounts to one of the planet’s biggest collective celebrations.
In Pine Plains and Stanford, festivities start as soon as this weekend, with organizers eager to build on the success of last year’s inaugural events.
In Stanford, organizers are hosting a community picnic and barbecue at the Bangallworks coworking space on Hunns Lake Road. The June 3 event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., features refreshments and treats including popcorn, cotton candy and confections from an ice cream truck. Large tents have been prepared in case of rain.
Stanford Pride co-organizer Donnie Roberts said the event, which is open to all ages and all members of the community, aims to recreate the spirit of connection and celebration of the inaugural Pride gathering, when more than 200 people joined in.
“Pride was incredibly well received by the town last year, with allies, friends and supporters all turning out to join the LGBTQ community,” Roberts said. “It was a real moment of inclusivity and a celebration of the town in quite a broad way, and it was just beautiful and fun.”
The debut got a meaningful jump start from former Town Board member Frank Pepe, whose Caring Community initiative had proposed a wintertime LGBTQ mixer in 2021 to help promote cross-community engagement as Stanford emerged from Covid-induced isolation. When the Omicron variant dashed those wintertime plans, organizers set their sights on June instead.
In Pine Plains, organizers are likewise hoping to recreate the buzz that marked last year’s Pride event with an extra nod to the town’s bicentennial celebrations this year.
Credit: Stanford Historical Society
Gatherings kick off June 3 at 6 p.m. with a $50 all-you-can-eat outdoor party at Lia’s Mountain View Restaurant, followed by a special Pride service and social at the Episcopal Church of the Regeneration at 10 a.m. the next day.
Church Street businesses will open their doors and offer free giveaways and food for an all-day neighborhood Pride celebration, followed by an afternoon party at the Back Bar Beer Garden.
Pride Month has its origins in the June 1969 Stonewall uprising, a series of spontaneous protests by members of New York City’s gay community. The uprising is seen today as the start of the rights movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.
Since then, the United States and other countries have marked notable advancements in LGBTQ rights, including the legalization of marriage equality and laws prohibiting discrimination and hate crimes motivated by gender identity or sexual orientation.
But there have also been setbacks, including recent steps in states like Florida, Georgia and Nebraska to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender people. At moments like these, Roberts said, community leaders have an important role to play in creating a sense of belonging and support for vulnerable LGBTQ residents.
Members of the Stanford Town Board will join Supervisor Wendy Burton in reading a proclamation marking June as Pride Month. A Pride flag will also be raised at the Town Hall during Pride weekend. Matthew McMorrow, a state deputy director for constituency affairs, will also be on hand at the Bangallworks event to read a proclamation from Governor Kathy Hochul.
“This town has really shown up for all the members of its community,” said Roberts, who moved to Stanford with his partner, Geoff Allman, in 2021. “This is important, especially for young people who so many times look around and don’t see a sense of belonging. Events like these are really about hope. And it’s great to see Stanford and Pine Plains collaborating on building this kind of community.”