Pride was extra special this year because it was hosted by Belfast Area High School. Attending BAHS as a teen was a very challenging time in my life. I was bullied every day for being gay. I started the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, but school leadership shut it down. I was later suspended for wearing homemade pride t-shirts. Due to these experiences I became committed to LGBT rights activism, which you can read more about here.
Times have changed. 20 years later, BAHS’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance is hosting Belfast Pride. I flew in from California to be here. I recreated the t-shirt that got me suspended in high school. My family, friends, and 300 people marched with us. The whole downtown turned out to cheer us on. Teenage me never would have dreamed we’d come this far and I’m so grateful I was here to see it. It was an incredibly healing experience for me.
There was a time when I didn’t believe it would ever get better. Conditions for LGBT people only get better by fighting for our rights and building communities, laying the foundation for future generations. Thank you BAHS GSA, COOP, and everyone else who helped put this year’s pride together.
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” -Nelson Henderson
@adamsunnyflanders Belfast Pride 2023 ????️???? #belfast #maine #pride #lgbt #bahs #gay #gaypride #pride2023 #highschool ♬ original sound – Adam Flanders
Belfast, Maine Pride Parade Media Coverage:
Village Soup – Belfast Pride celebration continues to grow
Fox 22 Bangor / ABC 7 – Belfast holds Pride parade
PenBay Pilot – Pride Parade continues celebration at Belfast’s Heritage Park
PenBay Pilot – Rainbows abound downtown for Belfast Has Pride Parade