Last Sunday, NVUnity worked with Planned Parenthood, GenAction, and the Campus Activities Board to provide transportation for students who were interested in going to pride. Those who signed up had the opportunity to march alongside Planned Parenthood in the Burlington Pride Parade.
The parade started at Church Street and ended at Waterfront Park where guests were greeted by vendors, a performance stage, a beer tent, and a quiet tent. The vendors ranged from food vendors, information booths, local queer artists, and plenty of organizations that work hard to make sure people know they are not alone. Most of these vendors also marched in the parade, as pictures show.
Many vendors were handing out free things such as informational pamphlets, pins, stickers, different kinds of contraceptives, and even seeds. The pamphlets that could be picked up ranged from other activist events such as a Walk to Fight Suicide hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention happening in October and information from Vermont Network on where survivors of domestic and sexual violence could reach out in every county. Other pamphlets lead people to websites that could help people find healthcare providers in the State that were affirming towards LGBT+ people or even gave information regarding an upcoming FDA study regarding gay men being able to donate blood.
Sunday was the closing day for Pride Week organized by Pride Center Vermont (PCV) which had events going on from September 9th until September 18th. Throughout these nine days, 25 different events occurred in the Burlington and Winooski area. Of these, 15 were completely community-led and not hosted by Pride Center Vermont. During the pride festival, PCV made sure to have accessible seating along with an interpreter next to the stage for those that are hard of hearing.
Pride is a very important thing for LGBT+ people because it brings us back to our history. As many know, this roots back to the Stonewall Riots which happened on June 28, 1969 in New York City. This is why most pride events are held in June, to help pay tribute to this monumental historical event that started the fight for gay rights. This doesn’t stop pride events being held all year long as different cities celebrate their queer history in what ways they can, especially after Covid-19 held pride back from what it once was.
Vermont has an important queer history of its own, including a Vermont Superior Court case that took place in Lyndonville. This case, Baker and Linsey V. Wildflower Inn, took place in 2010, showing just how close discrimination against LGBT+ individuals is not very far away from today, even in progressive states such as Vermont. The case started when Kate (Baker) Linsey and Ming Linsey were looking for a venue for the reception of their wedding. When they called the Wildflower Inn, a local resort that said everyone was welcome, they were informed that they could not hold their reception there because of the now former owners’ personal feelings. Despite the incident itself taking place in late 2010, the case was not settled until 2012, just barely 10 years ago.
To the LGBT+ community, pride events are a remembrance of those who we have lost in our ongoing fight for our rights. Pride is a time to remember the many LGBT+ lives lost to violence; it is a time to pay tribute to our queer elders who have spent so much of their lives fighting to get to where we are today; it is a time to appreciate the trailblazers who paved the way for LGBT+ activism; it is a time to remember that the fight is not yet over.
Feature Photo by Evan Colman || Students from the Vermont State Colleges System join the Burlington Pride Parade.