Foxy Cleopatra at Youth Pride 2005
The Youth Pride parade hits the streets of Boston next Saturday, May 13. That evening, the BAGLY queer/trans prom will be held at Boston City Hall.
Massachusetts Governors have issued proclamations supporting the Youth Pride event every year -- that is, until Article 8/MassResistance sent a little communication to Governor Romney's office last year. While he had issued a proclamation his first year in office, he declined to proclaim "Youth Pride Day" his second year.
Sadly, we see that this year the Youth Pride group has been allowed to issue an official press release from the Governor's office, under the "authority" of the "Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth." The Governor's name and seal are at the top of the page. The buck stops with him. Why did he allow this? Will he step in to stop this horrible event?
The press release says: " 'One of the goals of Youth Pride is to unite the very diverse youth from across Massachusetts and beyond, and celebrate the wisdom, love and courage they have gained throughout their lives so far,' says Mass Youth Pride Committee member Timothy James Gallant." The event will feature "Gender Crash" in their "Words of Wisdom" segment. [Gender Crash calls itself the "intersection of Boston's queer, transgender, and gender queer communities."]
From the Mass Youth Pride announcement: On Saturday, May 13th the MA Youth Pride Committee will transform the Boston Common into “Rainbow City” for the 12th Annual Youth Pride Celebration.
In celebration of their lives and diversity, GLBTQ youth and their supporters will gather by the thousands to kick off Massachusetts' 12th annual Youth Pride and this year’s event promises to be a smash!
The day will be hosted by drag king Heywood Wakefield (Aliza Shapiro) and the schedule is as follows:
12pm- Rally at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common with featured speakers on the topics of Wisdom, Love and Courage. Awards in those same categories will be presented to people who have been an inspiration to the GLBTQ community.
Following the rally, the Boston Women's Rainbow Chorus will perform numbers from The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz as our 'Lollipop Kids' prepare to set off along the red-brick Freedom Trail, past the golden 'Oz-like' dome of the Massachusetts State House and through the streets of Downtown Boston. [Yes, they've transformed our state into a fantasy-world freak show.]
Upon returning to the Common, the celebration will continue with a music and resource festival. The festival will feature interactive games and activities as well as a chance to purchase goods from various vendors, including some of our very own youth vendors.
Admission to this event is free.
Youth Pride is the oldest and largest event for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer youth and their allies in the nation. [A big thanks to Gov. William Weld!] A youth driven and youth organized event, this year's Youth Pride theme- "Rainbow City"- was chosen by the Massachusetts Youth Pride Committee to celebrate the diverse identities and shared spirit of GLBTQ youth. The MAYPC invites everyone to come and support GLBTQ youth while discovering that there is no place like Youth Pride!
For more information please contact Event Coordinator, Keri Aulita, at
ypcoordinator@hotmail.com or Youth Coordinator, Kelly Lydon, at kelly.lydon@state.ma.us.Or visit www.massyouthpride.org.
