Featuring remarks by several public officials and a performance by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, the Pride Lights ceremony will be virtual. The activities continue into next week, with Tuesday marking the annual Pride Lights ceremony, an annual remembrance of lives lost during the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The show will feature more than two dozen performers and will be headlined by former “American Idol” contestant Adam Lambert. Kicking off the socially distanced schedule is “OUTLOUD: Raising Voices,” a three-day concert event in the LA Coliseum that will be streamed online from June 4-6.
Over in Everett at Encore Boston Harbor, Men of Melanin Magic will be hosting an 18+ outdoor Pride celebration on Saturday, complete with live performances by the House of Escada (from the HBO Max show “Legendary”), Haus of Snap, Just JP, and Candace Persuasion.įor those staying inside for the time being, Pride Boston is also promoting nationwide virtual Pride events throughout the month of June. On Sunday, Quincy Pride Festival will be held at Pageant Field, complete with drag performers, LGBTQ vendors, food and drink service, an adorable puppy contest, and more outdoor fun. Over the weekend, there will be both in-person and virtual events worth checking out. Boston Mayor Kim Janey and Attorney General Maura Healey will deliver remarks, while the national anthem will be sung by recent Boston Conservatory grad Aaron Patterson. The festivities begin on Friday with the annual raising of the Pride flag at Boston City Hall at noon. Though there is no parade to look forward to, there are still plenty of Pride month activities to take part in over the next few weeks. We must continue to support and look out for each other as we fight for justice.” “Boston Pride is also continuing to work on transforming the organization to better represent the entire community. “The new theme ‘The Rainbow After the Storm’ acknowledges the tough and painful year our community has had and that better days are ahead,” Boston Pride president Linda DeMarco said in a statement. (Boston Pride currently has zero Black board members.) Earlier this week, Boston Pride announced that it would delay a planned Boston mayoral forum after three candidates said they would be dropping out in order to attend a separate Zoom event intentionally being held at the same time by some of the same activist groups.
But the metaphorical storm may not have completely passed: In February, Boston Pride made the decision to cancel the annual Pride Parade, the centerpiece to its monthlong celebration, due to the ongoing pandemic.įurthermore, since last year, a coalition of LGBTQ activist groups have criticized Boston Pride for not being sufficiently inclusive to Black and transgender members. The theme is fitting in some regards, given that the pandemic spoiled Boston Pride’s opportunity to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020.
Boston Pride, the group responsible for the largest Pride celebrations in the area, has chosen the theme “The Rainbow After the Storm” for this year’s festivities.