Medford raises Pride flag, kicking off monthlong celebration

By Norah Doyle

With a colorful kickoff on the front lawn of City Hall last week, Medford marked the start of its month-long Pride celebration. The event included the raising of the Rainbow Pride flag, local vendors, and an official proclamation from Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn declaring June as Medford Pride Month.

What began in 2020 as a simple flag-raising organized by the Medford High School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) has grown into a vibrant community celebration in recent years.

The ceremony opened with a rendition of the national anthem by local singer Lady Madsinger, followed by a blessing from Rabbi Jessica Dell’Era of Temple Shalom.

“This year we celebrate Pride not only with joy, but with uncertainty and defiance. With loving rage and righteous determination, merely existing while queer or trans has always been a rebellion,” Dell’Era said. “This year, while the powerful seek to scapegoat us and insist that we do not in fact exist, it is all the more important for us to stand here and say, ‘This is me.’”

Medford High senior and GSA officer Finn Sforza addressed the crowd next, sharing a piece of LGBTQ+ history.

“It was actually called the ‘GLBTQ+’ community — gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, etcetera,” Sforza said.

They went on to explain how, during the AIDS crisis, many healthcare professionals and family members refused to care for patients due to stigma. In response, lesbians and other queer individuals stepped in to provide support and comfort.

“They would take care of them, house them, help with their treatments, and were by their bedside when they were about to pass,” Sforza said.

To honor those contributions, Sforza noted, the “L” was placed before the “G” in LGBTQ+.

“This story brings me hope that we will not only stand up against hate, but be there for one another,” they said. “This flag we raised today symbolizes that.”

Several local elected officials attended the event, including School Committee members Erica Reinfeld, Vice Chair Jenny Graham, Secretary Paul Ruseau, John Intoppa, Aaron Olapade and Nicole Branley, as well as City Councilors Justin Tseng, Emily Lazzaro and Matt Leming.

“There is a concerted effort to weaponize sexuality and gender identity so that we, as a society, forget our shared humanity,” Reinfeld said. “But we’re not going to forget — there’s hope.”

Reinfeld acknowledged two resolutions passed by the School Committee in February reaffirming the district’s commitment to protecting the rights and privacy of queer and gender-nonconforming students. She also noted the district’s adoption of a new sexual health curriculum better suited to students’ needs.

“This work is not perfect, it’s not complete,” Reinfeld said. “But it shows that there are things we can do, even when we feel overwhelmed.”

Councilor Emily Lazzaro spoke about her pride in Massachusetts’ role as a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ rights.

“Gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004 — we were the first in the nation,” she said. “I feel so proud to say that every time. I, and I think many others, thought most of the fight was won at that point. But of course, there’s more work to do.”

“I am grateful to live in a city where our LGBTQIA+ neighbors are celebrated,” Lazzaro added. “I’m proud to live in Medford.”

While speakers addressed the crowd, two men across the street shouted in protest. The interruptions were largely ignored, but when Rev. Wendy Olapade took the stage, she acknowledged their presence.

“There’s a thing happening over there on the corner that I’m having a really, really hard time with,” she said. “So I want to release that for all of us by inviting us into a moment of silence to release the energy of hate.”

Following the silence, Olapade asked attendees to turn to a neighbor and say, “You are beloved just as you are.”

Lungo-Koehn then joined her at the microphone.

“The microphone of kindness will always be louder than that of hate,” the mayor said, before officially proclaiming June as Pride Month.

She invited the crowd to help raise the Rainbow Flag by taking turns cranking the flagpole. Children and adults alike hurried forward to take part.

The celebration continued with music, Italian ice, and even a dog parade, which the mayor partook in.

Vendors included the Medford Public Library, Sav’s Weird Wurld, Medford Connects, Lastly Gigi, and Cambridge Health Alliance.

Local residents Cyan McDermott and Joan Cyr, who helped establish the event, said they were thrilled with the turnout.

“At the beginning, there was nothing,” McDermott said. “We got together with [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director] Frances Nwajei and others to bring Pride to Medford.”

“We have to speak up,” Cyr added. “We have to say we’re here, we’re part of the community. Come join us.”