Pride Month Events - The Melrose Messenger

Melrosians Celebrate Pride!

By Ellen Putnam

Pride Month celebrations in Melrose kicked off last Thursday with a Pride flag raising at City Hall. Then, on Sunday, hundreds of LGBTQ individuals and allies from Melrose and beyond celebrated Pride and enjoyed being together at the Pride beer garden at the Beebe Estate.

Elected officials spoke at the flag raising, including City Council President Leila Migliorelli, State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, a representative from State Senator Jason Lewis' office, and Mayor Jen Grigoraitis. In their speeches, the officials expressed their support for the LGBTQ community and their concern for the safety of community members, especially trans individuals, in the current national climate. Then members of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Gay-Straight Alliance Club raised the Pride flag, to cheers from the audience.

At Sunday's beer garden, attendees enjoyed Idle Hands beverages and food trucks, along with live music and a family-friendly drag show. Local organizations and businesses set up booths where they offered Pride swag, and local artists who identify with the LGBTQ community displayed their work inside the Beebe Estate.

Pride events continue all month in Melrose: check the calendar on the Melrose Creative Alliance's website for more information.