City of Boston gearing up for first Pride parade since 2019

BOSTON — The city of Boston is gearing up for its first Pride parade since 2019 this Saturday.

It was cancelled for two consecutive years because of the pandemic and then the Boston Pride organization dissolved amid criticisms over lack of race and transgender inclusion.

This is the beginning of a new chapter organized by a new group.

“This is the first truly inclusive by the people pride that I have ever been a part of in my 25 years in Boston,” said Grace Moreno, CEO of Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

A new start for Pride in Boston offers an opportunity to represent everyone in the LGBTQ community and reach those who haven’t felt included in the past.

“I think as the community started to see the shift in our people right in the LGBTQ community and starting to realize how many voices weren’t being heard” “there was a great deal of sadness and of frustration that there was no room to improve what was there in ways that would bring more visibility to the populations that weren’t being represented,” said Moreno.

Moreno and organizers of the group, Boston Pride For the People, say this year’s Pride parade and month-long activities came together from scratch, without any resources or assistance passed on from the group that dissolved in 2021.

“This first year is just like putting out a few of the first, like foundational bricks. But we see building this new organization as an ongoing and open process that involves a lot of community members,” said Jo Triglio, VP of Boston Pride For the People.

Triglio says the parade itself will be shorter than the city’s previous Prides, but expects the excitement of a unified celebration will be palpable after three consecutive years of not having a parade in Boston.

“There will be floats and music and all the glitter and, you know, feather, boas, sparkles rainbows and unicorns as there usually is,” said Triglio.

The 2023 Pride parade kicks off at 11 a.m. in Copley Square and will end at Boston Common.

“This is how our movement kind of started as a riot and as an expression of us saying, this is who we are and we are not sorry about it,” said Dan Ortega, Parade Co-Chair.

Ortega says the final touches and fundraising will be playing out until the final hour. Boston 25 News witnessed that firsthand at a volunteer parade training session, where the many faces of those involved in this symbolic event were present.

“It’s just every sort of facet of our community is showing up and is excited to be part of this year’s series. So I think it’s going to be like just an amazing representation of who we are as a community.” “It’s part of history.. we’re making we’re making it as we speak, plus history by creating this new space for folks,” said Bren Cole, parade Sub-Committee Member.

Boston Pride For the People set a fundraising goal of $750,000 and they say they are on track to meet that goal this year.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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