NEPM is sharing personal stories about LGBTQ+ identity and experience. How about you — what's your story? Leave us a voicemail at 413-735-6634.
Springfield organized its first-ever Pride Parade this June. Parade organizer Taurean Bethea said he and others were motivated by the difficulties that many in the LGBTQ+ community faced during COVID-19.
Several Pride parades in other cities did not take place this year. Northampton’s parade — historically one of the bigger ones in the state — was canceled. Organizers said they need to rebuild their team and regroup for next year.
Boston’s Pride parade was not planned for this year after the organizing group dissolved. But the city will have a new office that aims to protect and empower the city's LGBTQ residents.
Outside New England in recent news, a number of U.S. states have either recently passed or are considering laws prohibiting schools from teaching or discussing topics related to gender identity or sexual orientation. Connecticut U.S. Senator Chris Murphy called these a coordinated attack on LGBTQ+ children.
Some states are also attempting to block transgender youth from getting gender-affirming medical care. A report from UCLA showed the efforts are impacting 58,000 transgender youth and young adults across 15 states.
In Massachusetts, a survey published by the state in 2021 showed that adult LGBTQ+ residents faced significant barriers to health care, jobs and housing stability during the pandemic.
Meet Cillian
Meet Rin
HCC Student Avery Maltz Receives Wells Fargo Scholarship
Poet Joy Ladin Reflects on Her Work and Identity Journey
Out Now Supports Springfield-area LGBTQ+ Youth
History of Pride in America with Kevin Henderson (Digital Extra)
Visit the LGBTQ+ page for more Connecting Point stories.