Northampton Pride Parade - May 4th - ARPS families marching

Save the Date 

2013 Northampton Pride Parade
Saturday, May 4th

Last year, for the first time, there was a contingent at the Pride Parade for the Amherst Regional Public Schools. Administrators, staff and families marched together, showing support and enjoying the festivities. This year we’d like to organize an even larger group and show even greater support.  The tone of the event is celebratory and family-friendly. You do not have to be a member of the LGBT community to march. In fact last year the majority of the people in the school group were allies.  Participating is a great way to show support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered members of our community.

Details from the organizers

The parade starts at noon in downtown Northampton and ends at a rally at the 3 County Fairgrounds.  The school group will be meeting 11:00-11:30 a.m. in the staging area across from the Northampton Brewery. 

For the parade, the school group will have a main banner to march behind.  We will stay together as the parade marches through town to the 3 County Fair Grounds, and then we will disperse to enjoy the day however we choose. Last year some people stayed for the vendors, musicians and speakers at the fairgrounds Several of us found a shady tree near the stage and enjoyed a picnic lunch. The event itself is free and all are welcome to attend. There is a charge for food and other Pride-related items are for sale in the tents.

Amherst is a diverse and accepting community but homophobia is still present. For children or staff members who hear homophobic comments at school it means the world to see that those attitudes to not reflect the feelings of the entire community.
                                                       

For more information, please contact Amherst regional schools contingent organizer Ali Wicks-Lim (Fort River parent) at wickslim@yahoo.com.  More information on the parade and Pride event itself is available here:  http://www.site.nohopride.org/Pride__Event.html

*** This is not a school sponsored event ***