Pride events Thursday, this weekend in area

Jul 06, 2023

A pair draped in Pride flags take part in a ceremony for LGBTQ rights in front of Attleboro City Hall last year. The group later walked to Balfour Riverwalk. June is Pride Month.

Pride Month events in the area continue Thursday and the next few weekends in honor of LGBTQIA+ residents.

The breakdown:

Throughout June, the Attleboro Public Library's third floor Young Adult display will feature LGBTQIA+ books and authors. Tween/Teen Coordinator Meghan Witherell has collaborated with Attleboro High School's Gay & Straight Alliance to highlight their favorite titles.

Also, when you stop by the library this month, visit any public service desk to grab a free take-and-make Pride rainbow bracelet kit.

The city's annual Pride Flag Raising was held at City Hall last Sunday, organized by the Attleboro Council on Human Rights. Local officials, faith leaders, and residents shared their thoughts on Pride. The flag raising was followed by a Pride Walk to Balfour Riverwalk Park, with vendors and other organizations selling products, sharing information, and offering refreshments and fun, family-friendly activities along the way.

The North Attleboro Pride Festival in partnership with DANA is taking place from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at Town Hall/Veteran's Park, 43 South Washington St.

Franklin Pride Celebration is set for noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25 on the Town Common where Pride Flags were planted June 1.

The Mansfield Democratic Town Committee again is hosting a flag-raising ceremony in front of Town Hall at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 8.

"This is a family friendly event, so please join us as we uphold and support LGBTQ+ young people, family members, neighbors, and friends," the committee said.

This year's celebration will include a keynote address given by a volunteer parent facilitator of a local Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays group. He is a local educator who began attending local meetings of Greater Boston PFLAG with his spouse soon after their child came out to them as nonbinary about six years ago. He and his wife are now part of a South Shore group of parents on a similar journey, and last year became facilitators within that group. He will describe how the approach of PFLAG supports the entire LGBTQ+ community.

Other speakers include Town Manager Kevin Dumas, state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, state Rep. Adam Scanlon, D-North Attleboro, and state Rep. Ted Philips, D-Sharon.

The Mansfield High School Choir will be led by Laura Brophy.

Norton Pride Celebration 2023 is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at Everett Leonard Park on Parker Street.

The community celebration will feature music, food, activities and the pool will be open.

Plainville Community Pride Night was held in May at the Jackson and Wood schools, and included hands-on activities for kids such as an obstacle course, cup-stacking, coloring jaguar masks, and balloon animals with a photo booth.