Woonsocket flies the Pride flag with full approval from the mayor and city council
"... five Prides ago, on June 28th, 2021, we marched through the city in protest against a mayor and city council that did not believe our existence should be celebrated."
“Five years have passed, almost to the day, since the city council unanimously voted to pass my resolution creating an annual pride flag raising event for our city, and a group of us got together to raise Woonsocket’s first-ever pride flag on that pole right there,” said Woonsocket Pride President Alex Kithes to the small crowd gathered in Market Square, Woonsocket. “Those five years haven’t been easy. Woonsocket was particularly hard hit by the ongoing pandemic and its economic fallout, as well as the worsening inequality it caused. We’ve suffered the growing housing crisis, accelerating climate breakdown, and more recently, the return of a Presidential Administration that is openly hostile to both our queer community and to diverse, working-class communities like Woonsocket.”
Kithes was speaking at the first Pride flag raising officially sanctioned by both the Mayor of Woonsocket and the Woonsocket City Council, ahead of Woonsocket’s fifth annual Pride event happening this Sunday at River Island Park.
“Things aren’t great nationally and around the world, but I still feel some hope because, at the same time, we’ve seen so much growth in the work being done by local activists and organizations - movement work across all of these issues that are important to our community,” continued Kithes. “I’ve been so happy to work with officials like Mayor Christopher Beauchamp, leaders who are genuinely committed to meaningfully working alongside community advocates to make things better in Woonsocket.
“Part of that growth, part of what gives me hope, is the establishment of Woonsocket Pride. Not only as a community organization, not only as an annual tradition centered around the flag, not only as a fun yearly festival, but as a gathering space for joyful resistance, as a beacon and promise that whatever hellish executive order comes down from the federal government, we are not going back.
“Now, a Pride flag - really, any flag - is just a symbol. It’s a piece of cloth that means certain things to certain people, and other things to others. It doesn’t pay anyone’s rent or stand in the way of federal assaults on our civil rights.
“But what this flag represents is very, very real. This flag represents the past and present struggles of the queer community, our persistence and joyful resistance, our celebration of our hard-fought rights that are one penstroke from being taken away, and our commitment to continue fighting for those siblings of ours - our trans siblings, our Black siblings, our Palestinian siblings, our undocumented siblings - who are still fighting for their God-given rights to freedom and self-determination.
“This flag represents that we, as a community, are not going back.”
Here’s the video:
“Today, we come together to raise the Pride flag, marking the beginning of Pride month in our community,” said Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp, the first mayor in the city’s history to speak at a Pride event. “This flag is more than fabric and colors. It is a powerful symbol of diversity, inclusion, and the enduring spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. It represents the journey towards equality, the vibrant spectrum of human identity, and the fundamental right of every individual to live in authenticity, with dignity and without fear.
“Raising the flag signifies our commitment, as a community, to fostering an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and celebrated for who they are,” continued Mayor Beauchamp. “It reminds us of the progress we’ve made, the struggles that continue, and the work that still lies ahead to ensure true equality for everyone. Let this flag be a beacon of hope and a visible testament to our shared value of love, acceptance, and understanding. May it inspire us all to continue building a more inclusive and compassionate world, not just this month, but every day of the year, and especially here in Woonsocket.”
I’ve covered Woonsocket Pride since the beginning:
“I’ve lived in Woonsocket for six years now,” said Woonsocket Pride Treasurer Leia Fifer. “The first accepting environment I found was here in Woonsocket as a young transgender teenager at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, right downtown, many, many years ago. My teachers and peers at Beacon uplifted my voice as an artist and transgender youth, providing me with the support to become an outspoken person active in my community. I have to thank Beacon Charter for helping me survive very tough times, [helping me] to be the person I am today - an artist, advocate, partner, dad to two beautiful dogs, and now a founding member of Woonsocket Pride.
“So many queer people I talk to in Woonsocket feel alone and underrepresented. Many people feel that our city and country lack supportive, safe spaces for them. I believe that now, for the first time, our mayor and city council are on board with making the change to protect and uplift queer people in Woonsocket, many of whom are active volunteers dedicated to helping everyone who lives here. I hope everyone sees that the City of Woonsocket is taking those steps. I hope it inspires others to follow suit.
“With increasing hate crimes, bigotry, and political attacks across the country on the rise, we need to be ready to fight homophobic and transphobic violence every day,” concluded Fifer. “To me, this flag is the leadership in Woonsocket standing with us and saying that violence and ignorance are not okay, and we don’t accept that here.”
“First, Happy Pride Month. Can I say that? Yes. We’re going to call it Pride Month no matter what they say. And also, Happy Juneteenth month,” said Dion Sage, who, in his role as drag queen Valerie Joy, will serve as emcee and mainstage coordinator at this Sunday’s Pride. “At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Woonsocket Pride on its fifth annual Pride celebration. To think, five Prides ago, on June 28th, 2021, we marched through the city in protest against a mayor and city council that did not believe our existence should be celebrated.
“I will never forget. That day was hot. The sun was high in the sky. The heat was on, and we were ready to make noise. I will never forget our passion, determination, and pursuit of happiness. People of different identities, orientations, ethnicities, beliefs, and ideologies came together to say ‘Love is Love.’ Over the years, we’ve had rallies and protests, and we've celebrated who we are. This year, we must rally, protest, and celebrate as if we need air and water.
“This year’s celebration, we must be unapologetically louder, prouder, and queerer,” continued Sage. “This Pride, we must be willing to scream, ‘We are here, we are queer, and we’re not going anywhere,’ - not just as a chant, but as a rallying cry. This year, we must join together and be willing to fight back against oppression, homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, and yes, white supremacy. We fight not with our fists, but not just with our words, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
“Today, we fight with the hope that makes the impossible possible. Today, we fight with the joy that no man can take away. Today, we fight with a love that’s so infectious that it can break down any stronghold of hate. And today, we fight with the faith that the dark past has taught us: remaining vigilant, standing up, standing louder, and standing prouder. Happy Pride, and thank you for having me.”
