Rainbows bedecked Jesup Green for the annual Westport Pride Celebration on Sunday, including, at left, a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag unfurled by Jill Brody. / Photos by Gary Webster
A giant rainbow puppet made for the Pride event by Anne Cubberly’s Giant Puppets in Hartford was brought to life by puppeteer Deje Bennett.
Photo at left: Brian McGunagle, founder of Westport Pride, and his son, Henry, 4, sported rainbow garb for the Westport Pride Celebration. At right: Jona Bernstein, president of the Staples High School Pride Coalition, told the crowd the group provides “a safe and open space” for LGBTQ+ students.

By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Rainbows were everywhere on Jesup Green Sunday – on shirts, on flags, even on rainbow-colored challah bread baked just for the occasion – at the 4th annual Westport Pride Celebration.

The rainbow, which has symbolized pride, diversity and unity for the LGBTQ+ community for more than 30 years, also was proudly displayed on a large flag brought to the celebration by Westporter Jill Brody, who said the image is “needed now more than ever. The flag is a symbol of freedom and democracy,” she said.

Jesup Green was circled with tables where children could get their faces or nails painted, vendors offered goods, members of Temple Israel gave away loaves of the multi-hued challah and books were available about LGBTQ+ issues.

Photo at left: A citation from the state General Assembly honoring Westport Pride was presented by state Rep. Johnathan Steinberg and state Sen. Ceci Maher. At right: state Treasurer Erick Russell, the first openly gay Black official elected to a statewide post nationally, was among the speakers at the event.
Photo at left: Cantor Julia Cadrain of Temple Israel offered a blessing for all at the Westport Pride Celebration with her daughter Acadia. At right: Haley Lieberman, right, and Goldie Friedman, the wife and daughter of Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Michael Friedman, helped pass out rainbow challah bread.

Opening the celebration was Brian McGunagle, the founder of Westport Pride, who welcomed all to the event kicking off local Pride Month festivities. 

Among the other speakers was state Sen. Ceci Maher, D-26, who along with state Rep. Johnathan Steinberg, D-136, presented a citation from the state legislature honoring Westport for the Pride Celebration.

“This is what Westport is all about,” Steinberg said, “Let us all continue to work together.”

Jona Bernstein, the president of the Staples High School Pride Coalition, said the student coalition, formed in 1983, fosters inclusivity and support for all students.

“Diversity is celebrated,” they said. “Our group is a beacon of hope for many people … but our work is far from over.”

Author Nikkya Hargrove was there to talk about her new book, the memoir “Mama: a Queer Black Woman’s Story of a Family Lost and Found,” which will be published in October.

Other events planned for Westport’s Pride Month include a performance of “Jackson Crash,” a rock musical about a young man’s journey searching for his identity, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Toquet Hall, 58 Post Road East, and “Chic & Cheeky, an evening with Patty Bourree,” a drag fundraiser at 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, at MoCA Westport, 19 Newtown Turnpike.

For more information about both events, visit the Westport Pride website.

________________________________

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.

Members of the Westport Democratic Town Committee at the Pride event included, from left, Sal Liccione, District 9 RTM member; Jessica Hill, Board of Finance member Danielle Dobin, and Ali Cramer.
Books on issues affecting LGBTQ+ families were on display at the celebration.

Add as a preferred source on Google