GREENFIELD — In the words of Franklin County Pride President Heather Mahoney, this year, Pride is about the importance of sticking together during challenging times.
“It is a beautiful show of family, friends and neighbors coming together to support one another. This year’s theme is ‘Together We Rise’ because together we are strong,” Mahoney said, kicking off Pride Month during a flag-raising ceremony on the Greenfield Common last week. “Together we are proud, and together we will support and fight for one another.
“One of the defining qualities about Franklin County Pride and western Massachusetts in general is that we are a small but mighty group of people in the commonwealth. Our towns work together to have our voices heard, and this commitment to collaboration and partnership is one of the many ways that make us stronger,” Mahoney continued. “Franklin County Pride echoes that spirit, with people coming from all 26 towns to celebrate and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community. And we need the support of our community more than ever before.”
It has been a challenging year for marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ community, Mahoney said. While data for 2025 is not yet available, according to the FBI’s “Crimes in the United States” report for 2024, there were 11,679 hate crime incidents across the country, 17.2% of which were motivated by a bias against a sexual orientation.
Mahoney said banding together to show that queer people aren’t going anywhere is important.
“I know it can be overwhelming and scary, and while we are not millions showing up in a large city, we know it still matters to show up at places where we live, work, volunteer and built family,” Mahoney said. “We hope to see your rainbows, your signs of support, your transgender flags and your pride show up in Franklin County.”
In her proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in Greenfield, Mayor Ginny Desorgher said there is more work to be done to ensure safety and respect for all.
“Organizations such as Franklin County Pride champion equality for the LGBTQIA+ population through tireless advocacy and striving to forge a more inclusive society as many of our community members face discrimination simply for being who they are and for who they love,” Desorgher said. “There remains much work to do to extend the promise of safety, freedom and validation to every person. … It is essential for cities like Greenfield to show support by promoting a community of mutual respect and acceptance while also taking a united stand against intolerance and bigotry.”
Parade and festival
Pride celebrations are set to continue on Saturday, June 13, with the ninth annual Franklin County Pride Parade and Festival in Greenfield. Festivities will be held rain or shine.
The parade will kick off at noon at Greenfield Middle School on Sanderson Street and will make its way down Federal and Main streets to Energy Park, where the festival will be held.
Jake Krain of Franklin County Pride said organizers are expecting the parade to include more than 70 groups, including 15 school groups, totaling more than 1,000 people.
“For me, I’m just really looking forward to when you look down Federal Street and all you see are people walking,” Krain said. “There’s no end in sight and it’s just the most beautiful thing to see.”
The festival will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Energy Park and Miles Street, which will be closed for the festivities. Mahoney said there will be various vendors; food and water; free activities such as face painting, bubbles, poetry with Karl the Mime and hula hooping; and musical performances by Kristen Ford, Zoe Lemos, Richard Parris Scott, Indë, Rocky Snyda, Mz. October May Lay, Olivia Nied, Damela Cuca DeVille, Elia Grincavitch, Garrin Benfield and Rumyn.
For more information about road closures, detours and parking, visit greenfield-ma.gov/news_detail_T4_R455.php.
Other Pride events scheduled throughout the month include:
- Franklin County Knits will knit rainbows on the lawn of the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew on Church Street in Greenfield from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.
- The Garden Cinemas on Main Street in Greenfield will screen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.
- A Pride Hike organized by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation will be held at the Great Falls Discovery Center at 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls on Sunday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 413-863-3221.
- A Pride party and picnic will be held at the Deerfield Elementary School pavilion with games and snacks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.
