Ridgefield’s Fourth Annual Pride in the Park, a free community celebration, took place yesterday, Saturday in Ballard Park and Ridgefield CT Pride Chairperson, Alisa Trachtenberg says it was phenomenal!
Please see the images and captions courtesy of Ridgefield CT Pride for a snapshot of this colorful and fun community event.
Shown in image #1
Adam Broderick and his amazing team at the Hair Flair Station add style and pizzazz to Ridgefield. Broderick was one of the initial sponsors of Pride in the Park, making Emmett Joyce’s dream of a Pride event in Ridgefield a reality.
Image #2
Proud parents Christopher and Alex Mann with their son Oliver. Christopher shared, "As new gay parents it is important for us to have Oliver surrounded by people in the park that are the farthest thing from judgment. This is Oliver’s second Pride in Park and we look forward to returning every single year.”
Image #3
Ronan McMullen stopped by the craft and face painting. Paul Tyra works his/her/their face-painting magic and radiates with Pride and positivity. “So glad to be back and getting to be a part of this wonderful community and see the smiling faces of the future generations and leaders and showing them that love is the way to lead,” commented Tyra.
Image #4
Singer/songwriter Dave Goldenberg with the last remaining vestige of the “Humanatree” Goldenberg was at the very first Diversity Celebration back in 1998 started by the Ridgefield Democrats. For the occasion, they painted a tree all of the colors of the rainbow symbolizing the richness of our diversity.
Image #5
Hannah Wrable’s Pride spirit soars as brother Ben plays with his balloon creation in the background.
Image #6
Steve, Hannah, Ben and Alycia Wrabel enjoy the lawn games at Pride in the Park 2023. "This is our first year here at Pride and we love this event!"
Image #7 and 8
Students from Ridgefield Public Schools Unified GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliance) and others gather in front of the gazebo in Ballard Park following the Pride March at Ridgefield CT’s Pride in the Park celebration.
Image #9
Jeremy Stein, Executive Director of CT Against Gun Violence and Ceci Maher, CT State Senator stand in front of the PFLAG Waterbury tent at Ridgefield CT Pride on Saturday June 3rd at Ballard Park. They were all smiles as they celebrated our LGBTQ+ community as well as the passage of House Bill 6667 which introduced comprehensive legislative on gun violence prevention “that includes several provisions to reduce gun violence, stop mass shootings, and prevent firearm accidents and suicides” (ct.gov). This is definitely something to cheer for the LGBTQ+ community given that “More than half of all suicides in the U.S. are by firearm and suicide attempts by firearm are usually lethal. LGBT people experience IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) as often as or more often than the general U.S. population. Bisexual women report high levels of IPV by male partners. LGBT people are victims of person-based violence at higher rates than victims of religiously or racially motivated crimes. (UCLA’s Report on Gun Violence Against Sexual and Gender Minorities in the United States April 2019)
Image #10
Members of St. Stephen’s Church came out in force to enjoy Pride in the Park 2023. Featured here are Christy llanos, Mathew Franz, Bruce Limbardi, Minnie, Jennifer Franz. Bruce Limbardi. “ I think this is a really important year to be here to show support for our LGBTQIA+ community. Connecticut is a shelter state. The same can’t be said for the safety and well being of many members of our community in other states. Particularly for the trans members of our community. I remember when being gay was not cool.”
Image #11
Eva Trachtenberg, who won Ms. President US for Ridgefield in 2020 on an LGBTQ+ platform, stopped by the Ridgefield Library stand at Ridgefield CT Pride in the Park to pose for a fun photo and learn about the library’s summer reading challenge.
Image #12
Heather Wallace, Forrest Schalkham, Sameer Premji.
Responses to “What do you think of today’s Pride in the Park?”
Forrest. " Makes me feel included. It is nice to have ways to celebrate.”
Sameer "It makes me proud of my town."
Heather "The majority of my friend group is part of the LGBTQ community and I love to celebrate them and all of their wonderful qualities at Pride.”
*Image #13
Michelle and Dana Mancuso
Michelle Mancuso: "Wearing a pride pin, creating a rainbow display, or putting up a pride flag tells the local community 'This is a safe space for those in the LGBTQ+ family.' I think the more people can openly talk about their trans children, their lesbian aunts, their nonbinary friends, queer business owners, gay baristas... the better we can normalize and highlight our awesome community. Be loud and proud; love always wins."
Image #14
Mike and Rachel Litt in front of the CT Against Gun Violence tent at Ridgefield CT Pride in the Park.
Learn more about Ridgefield CT Pride and the many events planned to celebrate Pride Month https://ridgefieldctpride.com/