– Nantucket LGBTQ+ Events Planning
– Nantucket LGBTQ+ Community Events.
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Nantucket Pride is gearing up for LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which kicks off on June 1st. Despite the current political climate and the passing of anti-LGBTQ bills in several states, Nantucket Pride is determined to make their voices heard.
“Some battles are worth fighting,” said Sean Allen, co-founder of Nantucket Pride. “If we’re not vocal now, we might as well remain silent forever.”
Established in 2018, Nantucket Pride was founded by Allen and his partner Aileen Dashurova to organise Pride events and build a supportive queer community on the island. After graduating from Antioch College, where a significant portion of the student body identified as queer, Allen returned to Nantucket and felt a noticeable absence of a queer community.
“I immediately sensed that I stood out in my own hometown,” Allen shared.
Determined to make a change, Allen and Dashurova set out to create a space that was lacking on the island.
“We wanted to establish something that was missing here,” Allen explained. “It’s challenging to find resources and connect with like-minded individuals. So, we decided to take matters into our own hands.”
Fast forward six years, and Nantucket Pride is flourishing and in the process of transitioning into a registered non-profit organization, ensuring its sustainability. This year’s events, starting with the opening bash at Cisco Brewers today, featuring a specially crafted Pride-themed cocktail, will contribute towards funding Nantucket Pride’s future initiatives and next year’s celebrations.
Staying True to the Roots of Pride
Despite the shift towards formal organisational structures and official recognition, Allen is steadfast in preserving the core values of Pride.
“It’s essential to stay true to the original message of Pride, which is rooted in resistance,” Allen emphasised. “People have fought and sacrificed for this cause. I don’t want Pride to be reduced to just a party adorned with glitter and rainbows.”
While Allen embraces rainbows – “I tend to go a bit overboard; come June, I’ll be decked out in rainbows,” he admitted – many of the planned Nantucket Pride events will undoubtedly exude a festive atmosphere. Whether or not there’s glitter involved, a vibrant display of rainbows is almost guaranteed.
“We can revel in queer joy and celebration,” Allen affirmed.
Embracing Queer Joy through Community Events
Nantucket Pride’s commitment to fostering queer joy is evident in their diverse range of events. One such event is the annual Pride car parade, scheduled for June 2nd, originally conceived as a socially distanced alternative during the pandemic. The success of the event led to its incorporation as a recurring tradition.
Another highlight is the Queer Prom, also known as the Gender-Bender Prom, hosted at the Nantucket Atheneum on June 22nd. This event offers high school students aged 14 and above the opportunity to explore their gender identity and attire themselves in non-traditional gender clothing.
“Queer youth often miss out on the chance to experience a traditional coming-of-age event,” Allen remarked, recalling last year’s Queer Prom, where students were reluctant to leave. “It was heartening to witness them feeling safe and free to be themselves.”
Confronting Political Realities and Ensuring Inclusivity
While Allen steers clear of portraying queer individuals solely as victims, he acknowledges the inextricable link between Pride Month and political activism, especially in the face of global challenges confronting the queer community. Even at last year’s Queer Prom, Nantucket Pride deployed what Allen humorously termed “bodyguards” to safeguard students from potential protestors, given the surge in anti-LGBTQ sentiments, particularly targeting schools and youth.
Central to Nantucket Pride’s ethos of radical queer action is the promotion of inclusivity.
“I’m urging our budding community to consider our relationship with other minority groups,” Allen stressed. “Together, we are stronger. It’s crucial to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table, a value I hold dear.”
Allen advocates for intersectionality, spotlighting the interconnectedness of various minority identities to create a collective strength greater than the sum of its parts.
“How can we ensure everyone, including those with disabilities and queer individuals of colour, can access our spaces? Multilingual resources and economic inclusivity are vital considerations,” he noted. “I want to ensure our events are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.”
Allen underscored the historical significance of intersectional solidarity within the Pride movement.
“It was the trans women of colour who were at the forefront,” Allen pointed out. “The most vulnerable blazed the trail and led the way.”
In addition to the aforementioned events, Nantucket Pride is curating a series of programmes across the island, including a film festival in collaboration with Boston’s Wicked Queer Film Festival. A detailed calendar of events can be found below.
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1. Nantucket LGBTQ+ Events
2. Nantucket Pride LGBTQ+ Organizing.
