Ridgefield CT Pride Raises Flag For Pride Month At Town Hall

**News Release Submitted by Ridgefield CT Pride**

June 1, 2023

Ridgefielders came out ”en masse” to attend the town's second annual Pride Progress Flag Raising event organized by Ridgefield CT Pride. The event took place on June 1st at 10am in front of Town Hall. The flag was raised under sunny skies by 21 month old Rose Daley, sporting an adorable rainbow t-shirt which read “Be Proud. Be Strong. Be You!,” her mom, Angela, Ridgefield’s First Selectman, Rudy Marconi and Ridgefield CT Pride Chairperson, Alisa Trachtenberg.

Trachtenberg welcomed the crowd with a message of positivity “Today, we are going to focus on the positive, and the strides we have made to increase visibility, understanding and awareness over the past year, so that our Pride community members and their loved ones feel welcome and know that they truly belong here.” She went on to talk about how we are stronger together and some of the many collaborations that Ridgefield CT Pride is engaged in, with PFLAG Waterbury, Wooster School and most recently with the Ridgefield Historical Society. She reminded people that “We know for a fact, PRIDE SAVES LIVES! Year after year, the Trevor Project’s Survey on LGBTQ+ Mental Health reaffirms that 'LGBTQ youth who live in a community that is accepting of LGBTQ people reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not.'"

Next up was Barb Jennes, Ridgefield’s Poet Laureate Emerita who read a very moving original poem that she wrote especially for the occasion called “I Would Miss the Rainbows” in which she imagined a world in only black and white. Marconi followed up on the theme of the poem just before the flag was raised in front of a crowd of supporters. For some in the crowd, it was their very first time attending such an event. In fact, the Drake family had just moved here from the state of Georgia and were thrilled to participate in such an event, something which would not have been possible in GA and the reason why they moved to CT. “It was great to have the kids get out and see the pride flags in the area. They were counting on them!” commented Audra Drake. After the flag raising, Jeremy Stein of CT Against Gun Violence and Glori Norwitt of The Center for Empowerment and Education spoke about the importance of gun safety legislation and services offered by the Center for all, including LGBTQ+ individuals. After the event people lingered and chatted.

This Saturday June 3, celebrate Pride in the Park from 12:00 - 3:00pm in Ballard Park. For more information about this event, and Ridgefield CT Pride including other gatherings and initiatives, or how to register to participate in the LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project go to RidgefieldCTPride.com.