Stonington Pride
In June of 2023, Stonington Pride was created by Meg Blanchette and yours truly.
It started because, a year after the School District briefly removed Pride Flags from all classrooms (after complaints from a parent, and until they received guidance from the town atty), the district made another controversial decision surrounding Pride month and the lgbtq+ community. The district had decided to do no formal observation of this particular herritage month, despite formally observing all others. Higher grades would be allowed to do student-led observations, guided by the GSA. Lower grades usually read a book related to the subject. But for Pride, no book would be read. This was very upsetting, as there are many age-appropriate books, and many children in our community with lgbtq+ parents and family members. So, we decided WE would host a book reading event. Reading in the park! Bring your kids, bring your books, it will be beautiful.
We also met with the Superintendent and other staff, and received more information regarding their decision and that of the Board of Education. Due to this further info, we decided that this gathering would be not only a family-friendly reading, but a positive, colorful protest of the way our community and discussing it was being treated. dozens of people met in the park, in the rain, and read books, held signs, had bright umbrellas, painted kids faces with biodegradable glitter, and it was one of the most uplifting events I have ever been to!
We also encountered many queer folk from Stonington who shared with us that they have lived here for months, years, decades, and thought they were the only gay folks in town. That they had considered moving away. That they had been traveling to Providence, Boston, New York, to find community. That they were SO HAPPY to find more community IN THEIR COMMUNITY. We knew we couldn’t let this stop here. So we didn’t.
It took some time to figure out exactly where we were going with things, what Stonington Pride was going to look like. But we got there. We’re getting there. And it’s glorious.
what we’ve been up to
Queer Book Group - We are super proud to partner with Thought Fox and Bank Square Books on Stonington’s Queer Book Group! Check it out HERE
Co-organized Stonington Stands Up! September 2024
Stonington Pride! Town of Stonington’s Pride Proclamation - June 2024
We were proud to work with the Town of Stonington CT to help put together the town’s first ever official Pride Month Proclamation! We also were able to donate a Pride flag to the town for use at the proclamation, and in future years for flag raisings.
You can read an article about the event here, or if you don’t have a subscription, view a PDF here.Vigil in Honor of Nex Benedict, Union Baptist Church, Mystic CT - March 2024
Social Media - Like most groups, we are on the socials. Instagram and Facebook, specifically. We post about LGBTQ+ history, rights, events, and so much more! We really focus on keeping people up to date on local events, but most importantly, anti-trans legislation, and what they can do about it!
That said, our current “claim to fame” is in June of 2023, we posted mems and content about the history of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. This caused our State Representative Greg Howard (R) to make public posts and statements about how this was “anti-police rhetoric” and that we were “trying to incite violence” and that I (and Meg?) shouldn’t be allowed to run for public office.
Lol.Read with Pride Protest, Stonington CT - June 2023
Most of the work that I do in this arena is unpaid; it is work that I do because it matters deeply to me, impacts me personally, and absolutely lights my fire. That said, I would like to say that disabled folk, as much as anyone else, deserve to be paid for their work. My work should not be held up as an example of how disabled folk should work for free for causes we care about or that matter to us.
With that in mind, if you appreciate the work that I do and would like to support it and me, you can Buy Me A Coffee or become a Patron.