Regional Pride celebrations took place in Lynn, Marblehead, and Swampscott to celebrate the first week of Pride Month. There was something for everyone at these events with a wide range of activities and celebrations.
LYNN
United Lynn Pride hosted the Youth Pride event from 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Park and the Lynn Museum.
The Youth Pride event was created as an opportunity for the city’s young people to connect with peers and celebrate diversity and tolerance, not just during the month of June but all year.
Celebrations included performances by local youth, and activities and resource tables to help young people connect with other organizations in the community.
An exhibit highlighting the rich LGBTQ+ history of the city is set to unveil at the Lynn Museum & Arts Center on June 5 at 5:30 p.m.
The exhibit “Through a Rainbow Lens, a Reflection on Lynn’s LGBTQ+ History” covers approximately a century of everything from Lynn’s nearly 20 gay bars to members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community who went on to national fame, according to the event’s press release.
The project consists of over two dozen filmed interviews with members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, with some dating back 40 years. According to the release, the project also features more than 500 photos, fliers, posters, and dozens of news articles highlighting the vibrant LGBTQ+ history of Lynn.
MARBLEHEAD
The town celebrated the beginning of Pride Month with its fifth annual Pride flag-raising ceremony on the lawn of Abbot Hall from 3 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The event was open to the public and included a variety of speakers including town officials, clergy, youth, and members of the town’s LGBTQ+ community.
SWAMPSCOTT
In celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, the town held a Run with Pride 5K, which began at Town Hall at 4 p.m. and ended back at Town Hall at around 7 p.m.
Participants at the 5k enjoyed complimentary yard games, face painting, and other forms of entertainment.
The Run with Pride 5K also featured a Pride flag-raising ceremony with guest speakers.
Vivian Mançellari also contributed to this article.
