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Today is Thursday June 22, 2017—I’m your host, Jason Velázquez, and I thank you for tuning in to this episode, Number 43, of the Top Left Corner!
On our show today, we welcome Kenneth Mercure, who is one of the principal organizers of the Pride event going on in Pittsfield on Saturday. This is the first ever such event in terms of size, reach, and intersectionality. We spoke with Kenneth by Skype not only about the event, but also about the historical dimensions of the LGBTQ community in the Berkshires and some of the challenges still faced in 2017. He also provides some common sense advice, based on his own experiences, about coming out, safety, and some of the resources available for gays, lesbians and others trying to navigate a gender landscape that still poses risks.
Mentioned on this show
Berkshire Pride Official Website
Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County
Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition
Berkshire Theatre Group
From Berkshire Pride’s Facebook Page
The 1st annual public LGBTQ PRIDE event for Berkshire County, to be held in Pittsfield, MA on June 24th, 2017. The event theme this year is “Creating Community”. Festivities, Speakers, Community Resource Fair, Entertainment and more! More details to come, this will be a family-friendly celebration. Please visit our page and send a message or email us at [email protected], if you are interested in being a vendor, entertainer, volunteer or if you are non-profit or community group who would like have table at our resource fair. BE THERE AND BE QUEER! MAY THE RAINBOW BE WITH YOU! Invite and share as much as you can!
Berkshire Pride is a community alliance composed of individuals representing diverse organizations and projects whose goal is to promote LGBTQI equality via community organizing by implementing educational and support projects that empower LGBTQI people and enable a dialog about such issues in the community. Berkshire Pride is a freeform project with the goal of providing a platform for individuals and community organizations who want to make the Berkshires an even better, more inclusive and more welcoming place to visit and live for all people. Berkshire Pride is not meant as a replacement or additional organization. It is a launching point where already existing and new organizations can come together with non-affiliated community organizers and work together.
