LYNN — United Lynn Pride kicked off its main week of Pride events with the Rainbow Tower Lighting celebration at High Rock Tower on Monday evening.
Ward 3 City Councilor Coco Alinsug said that previously, Pride events had never been a large focal point in the city and members of the LGBTQ+ community had to travel to Boston, Salem, or other cities to participate in festivities for Pride Month.
“11, 12 years ago, we started raising the Pride flag in Lynn,” Alinsug said. “We still (had) to go out and parade and celebrate outside of Lynn.”
Alinsug said in 2021, United Lynn Pride was created. Since then, he said the nonprofit has really started to organize more Pride events in the city.
“We decided, you know, we need to make it unique in Lynn and not just a one-time thing,” Alinsug said.
During the Rainbow Tower Lighting celebration, High Rock Tower was lit up to represent the Pride flag. The event also featured live music.
“I think that hosting these LGBTQ+ events in Lynn is important just generally to continue advocacy and awareness about the LGBTQ+ community in Lynn,” United Lynn Pride President and Executive Director Cristian Recinos said. “To let folks know that, you know, it’s not just the big cities. It’s not just Salem, it’s not just Boston, there are also members of the community that are here in Lynn.”
Other events throughout the week for Pride Month will include the Pride Flag Raising on June 25 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, the Community Meal on June 25 from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, the LGBTQ+ Artist Showcase on June 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lynn Museum, the Pride Paint Nite on June 26 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Galleries at Lynn Arts, the Pride Zumbathon on June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Demakes Family YMCA, and Rainbows on the Harbor on June 30 at 7 p.m. at Lynn Harbor.
More information about this week’s Pride events can be found at https://www.unitedlynnpride.com/pride2024 .
