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Taryn Fortier, 15 of Bethel, and Ruby Sage-Robison, 16 of Bethel, stopped for a picture at the Bethel Municipal Center after the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
The second annual Bethel Pride Parade finishes at the municipal center. Sunday, May 6, 2018
“Tan Tan,” of Bethel, waved a rainbow flag during the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
The second annual Bethel Pride Parade starts off at the municipal center. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Hailey Gesler, 14 of Bethel, prepares to march in the second annual Bethel Pride Parade on School Street. Sunday, May 6, 2018
The second annual Bethel Pride Parade heads down School Street in front of the municipal center. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Lily Carter, 12 of Bethel, and Natalie Smart, 13 of Bethel, were taking a selfie at the Bethel Municipal Center after the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
Stilt walkers Cynthia Rauchert, of Bethel, and Alea Sauvageau, 8 of Bethel, stopped for a picture at the Bethel Municipal Center after the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
The second annual Bethel Pride Parade heads down School Street in front of the municipal center. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Makana Onorato, 12 of Bethel, marches along in the second annual Bethel Pride Parade. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Chris Jaouen, of Bethel, watches the marchers line up for the second annual Bethel Pride Parade on School Street. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Rod and David Crenshaw-Frade, at center, marched in the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017. They’ve been married for five years.
Lisa Colon, of Danbury, awaits the start of the second annual Bethel Pride Parade on School Street. Sunday, May 6, 2018
The second annual Bethel Pride Parade heads along School Street in front of the municipal center. Sunday, May 6, 2018
Ruby Sage-Robison, 16 of Bethel, wore a rainbow cape while carrying a rainbow flag at the Bethel Municipal Center after the first-ever LGBTQ Pride Parade in Bethel, Conn. on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
BETHEL — Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, Bethel CT Pride’s LGBTQ+ pride parade and celebration is returning next month.
The free, family-friendly outdoor event will take place May 7, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Bethel Municipal Center.
It will kick off with a sidewalk parade, led by local LGBTQ+ leader Will Love, beginning across from the Bethel Train Station.
The procession will make its way through downtown Bethel and culminate at the Municipal Center, where there will be more than 50 vendors and live musical performances by Sans Cherubs and Lana Botex.
There will also be breakout sessions hosted by Apex Community Care, the Circle Care Center and Triangle Community Center, as well as food from Salz Pizza and The Snack Shack served throughout the day.
The annual Bethel CT Pride parade and celebration was founded by middle school students in 2017 to celebrate equality and support the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
Organizer Emily Denaro said more than 1,000 people attended the last in-person celebration in 2019, and she is confident this year’s festivities will “appeal to both members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies within the Greater Danbury area.”
Due to COVID, the annual pride event went virtual in 2020 and was postponed entirely in 2021.
“We are excited to finally return to our roots with an in-person event, especially in light of the many attacks on the LGBTQ+ community happening across the country,” Denaro said. “Hosting our celebration now seems more vital than ever.”
Bethel CT Pride’s 2022 parade and celebration will take place rain or shine.
Kendra Baker is a reporter for the News-Times who previously worked as a general assignment reporter for The Wilton Bulletin. Before The Bulletin, Kendra freelanced for The Redding Pilot and interned for the New Haven Independent. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in psychology. Her work has also been published on ConnecticutHistory.org.
