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The following was submitted by Alix Ke, WHS Class of 2026 and intern at the Network for Social Justice
June is PRIDE month, and Winchester is once again showing its commitment to inclusion, celebration, and the LGBTQ+ community.
The town’s PRIDE Proclamation and Human Rights Statement, both available on the Town of Winchester’s website, reaffirm the town’s support for equality and dignity for all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Further, Spring Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to establish a Human Rights Commission in Winchester.
PRIDE is more than rainbow and colorful flags around town, though. It’s loud, vocal support for our neighbors, no matter who they are.
This celebration isn’t just for the queer community, but for everyone who has felt alone or rejected for who they are to see that there are people who support and care about them.
There is no PRIDE without people out there celebrating, so we invite you to come bring our community a little closer.
PRIDE Around Town
Flag Raising June 1, 12 noon, Winchester Town Common
To kick off PRIDE month, join us to raise a new PRIDE flag on the Town Common on Monday, June 1, at 12 p.m.
Downtown PRIDE Window Painting June 3-10
Once again, the Family Action Network of Winchester (FAN) is decorating the town center with beautiful windows, sponsored by Kidstock Creative Theater!
They invite families to come and paint business windows with PRIDE decorations and messages, which will stay up through PRIDEfest and the following weekend.
Register through FAN’s website and contact communityconnections@fanwinchester.org for more information.
First Congregational Church Photography Exhibit May 31- June 14
This year, the First Congregation Church (FCC) will host Family Diversity Projects’ Building Bridges exhibit, a free and open invitation photography showcase which explores the real lives of immigrants and refugees, challenging the degrading portrait repeatedly painted in the political landscape.
While this exhibit is not entirely LGBTQ+ focused, anti-queer rhetoric is one of many examples of the bigotry that displaces families and dehumanizes people. For times and more information, look for the “Upcoming Events” section of the FCC’s website here.
Winchester PRIDEfest June 11 (rain date June 12)
Mark your calendars for Winchester’s 6th annual PRIDEfest, a student-led celebration of the LGBTQ+ community supported by the Network for Social Justice!
There will be food, music, games, and individual tables from student groups, businesses, and local nonprofit organizations. DJ and drag queen Maxine Harrison will be back again for an incredible performance and a Q&A session open to middle and high school students afterwards.
PRIDEfest is an incredible, joyful gathering for people of all ages and identities to not only celebrate but also have a chance to learn more about queerness as a whole. To donate, use this link.
For more information or to sponsor, email office@nfsj.org.
PRIDE Tea Dance June 14 (rain date June 20)
What is a “Tea Dance?” A play on the English countryside tradition, tea dances were a way for queer people to gather when it was illegal for bars to serve them alcohol; the dances provided a means to circumvent the oppressive law and still be able to connect.
The Griffin Museum of Photography and the Network for Social Justice are hosting Winchester’s first PRIDE Tea Dance.
It is open to all ages and will feature drag queen Maxine Harrison as DJ. Arlington Brewing Co. will offer beer and there will also be mocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.
Supervision and games will be provided for children, and tickets cost $25 for anyone 21 years of age and up.
With questions or to sponsor this fundraiser, contact crista@griffinmuseum.org.
