BCAT News

On Sunday, June 26th Burlington will be holding its second annual LGBTQ+ Burlington Pride Celebration on the Town Common 11am to 2pm. Leo Abramov and Kerry Moe who spearheaded the inaugural event a year ago have been the lead organizers for the event’s return. Moe spoke on the success of last year’s event. 

“We were so happy with last year’s turnout and it was pretty much exactly what we wanted. Just staying focused on the LGBTQ community in Burlington,” said Moe.

Burlington is one of the few places in Massachusetts that doesn’t have Pride celebrations through the schools, the town or churches. Burlington’s LGBTQ+ community is looking for the Pride celebration to be a Burlington based community event.   

“This year’s event will be a bit bigger in that more people are aware of it and it will have more tables and volunteers showing support,” Moe continued. “It was a lot easier to bring together, based on last year, we’re doing a lot of the same things. We have the interest, we have the volunteers, people were already saying ‘how can we help’ so those pieces have been much easier than it was last year.”

DJ Christie Connolly will be bringing the beats from the gazebo and also hosting ‘Queeraoke’ where everybody gets a chance to sing. “St. Blair” is set to perform, there will also be an appearance by drag queen “Mergie Fitzsimmons” and performances by the Burlington Players.

Burlington High School students will be more involved this year teaming up with Shawsheen Tech students. There will be a local hairdresser doing braids and clip ons along with a host of crafts, temporary tattoos and face painting will be making its Burlington Pride debut as it was not allowed last year due to COVID. The Burlington Public Library will be on hand and holding LGBTQ storytimes. Burlington Buzz will be in attendance and more. Moe explained how business owners and politicians were graciously turned down.

“We don’t want to make it political, we don’t want any sort of corporate sponsorship. It’s completely volunteer and donation,” said Moe.

The party-like atmosphere of the 2021 Burlington Pride Celebration is sure to kindle another fun day of acceptance and embracing all that we are. Moe said the goal of the Burlington Pride Celebration has always been about positive engagement. 

“It’s to celebrate and help those who have felt excluded in the past, help them feel safe and welcome,” said Moe.

For more you can visit the Burlington Pride Celebration Facebook event page and check out the LGBTQ community/allies of Burlington Facebook group.