More LGBTQ high school students doing amazing things… Since it appeared no adults were planning to revive the local Pride parade in Belfast, Maine, a group of students at Belfast Area High School took up the mantle and organized the event this year.
Belfast hasn’t held a Pride parade since before the pandemic, and it almost didn’t happen this year. https://t.co/DlCN6ppt26
— Bangor Daily News (@bangordailynews) May 20, 2022
From Bangor Daily News:
Willa Bywater, 17-year-old president of the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, said it has been a lot of work to organize the parade — but it’s well worth it.
“I think that this is the Pride parade for Waldo County, and it feels really important,” she said. “After all these years of COVID, it’s important to remind ourselves that we’re all still here and still going.”
The 20 club members secured a permit from the city of Belfast, found sponsors, raised money for banners, flags and other expenses and grappled with the procuring of liability insurance.
Ultimately, the high school agreed to cover the event under the school’s policy, a move that surprised and pleased the teens, according to Annie Gray, the club’s co-advisor.
Belfast is a town of about 7,000 on the southeast coast of Maine.
Belfast’s first-ever Pride parade and festival occurred in 2016, and became an annual tradition. Thanks to these amazing LGBTQ high school students, it will continue to be.
If you are interested in participating in the Belfast Pride parade, folks are asked to meet at Belfast Area High School at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4. The parade will step off at 11 a.m. and will end just before the Public Landing and Heritage Park.
Read the full report about these great kids here.
Related: Maine Becomes 17th State To Ban ‘Ex-Gay Therapy’
The video below reports on Belfast’s first Pride event back in 2016.
Local Maine Teens Take Over Small Town’s Pride Event – https://t.co/PfgtrUyXei pic.twitter.com/ruQ9BOgdQ2
— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) May 22, 2022