Published: 6/10/2020 3:02:41 PM
EASTHAMPTON — Last May, the LGBTQ pride flag flew for the first time outside 50 Payson Ave., the seat of the city’s government, for a week. Now, the flag is flying again, except this time it’s set to stay flying through the month of June.
“I’m happy to see it go up,” said City Councilor Lindsey Rothschild.
Rothschild, who identifies as queer, said the flag being flown at 50 Payson is symbolic of the town evolving, and noted that it took many years of “transforming hearts.”
City Council President Peg Conniff, who identifies as a lesbian, helped to put up the flag when it was first raised on Friday.
“I was very proud to do that last week,” Conniff said.
Conniff described the flag going up last year as a “big moment,” and said that, given the state of the the world, the flag going up this year was equally significant.
Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said it’s important to keep the flag up for the remainder of pride month.
“Our commitment to the LGBTQI community is year-round,” LaChapelle said.
Last year, Easthampton had its first dedicated contingent march in Noho Pride. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no official in-person pride celebrations by the city this year, aside from keeping the flag up.
“Like everything else with COVID, it’s disappointing, but it’s completely understandable,” Conniff said. “I’m OK with us pushing it off for a year.”
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.