Photo Gallery: West Hartford Pride Festival 2022
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West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford hosted its third annual Pride Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2022, attracting diverse crowds amidst 90 degree heat.
By Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride kicked off the last weekend of Pride Month with a large crowd attending a celebration on Saturday, that featured performances from drag queens and local musicians.
Sister Funk, an all-female band based in New Haven, gave a wonderful performance. Carrie Ashton, another Connecticut-based musician, followed Sister Funk with lively acoustic music. The festival also featured award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, Shawnee Kish.
In addition, the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus performed selections from their repertoire.
Many local companies had booths set up at the festival, showing their support for Pride with many giving out rainbow-colored trinkets. There was also a waffle truck and a piña colada booth.
Amidst the turbulence facing our country today, one festival attendee claimed they felt “conflicted.”
“I feel really great to be here,” they said, “but at the same time, there are a lot of things going on in the world that aren’t so great.”
Others rejoiced, excited to be attending their first Pride event, and overwhelmed by the positive energy and never-ending support from fellow attendees.
“It’s just constant compliments. You walk up to someone and say that you love their makeup, and they compliment you back. Then you walk two feet and someone else compliments you … the energy here is amazing,” said Tae, a first-time Pride attendee.
The Festival ran from noon to 6 p.m., and ended with an hour-long dance party.
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
Sister Funk at West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
Carrie Ashton at West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
Sister Funk at West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride 2022. Photo Credit: Sophie Christensen
West Hartford Pride. June 25, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford Pride. June 25, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford Pride. June 25, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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We are concerned taxpaying West Hartford citizens who voiced our concerns to West Hartford library contacts and board members, and as a result, a planned Pride activity was cancelled in the library. http://www.ctfamily.org/drag-queen-story-hour-at-library-canceled/
So, this was in a public space, Noah Webster’s Blue Back Square? Named after Webster’s famous Blue Back (spelling) primer? We see the alphabet painted along the stairs. We acknowledge, this is not what Noah Webster would have envisioned, if he could see into the future, and envision what is the colloquial expression today (lgbtqia) “alphabet” people . . . NO. Webster would have shunned this.
Mary, Noah Webster is dead.
And yet, even in his time, there were gay people. There were lesbians. There were bisexuals, And yes, Mary, there were even transgender people like me. Queer people have been around for thousands of years.
But it’s only in our lifetime that LGBTQ+ folks can live free and without restrictions and judgment from folks like you. I cannot guess what Noah Webster would shun, but I can guarantee you that he would have turned his back on bigotry and hatred. Why can’t you just be kind, and go about your life without casting aspersions on others. How sad for you, to spend your late nights typing rants against people celebrating their lives.
This is a very rude response to a very polite and respectful disagreement to a drag queen indoctrination. Mary, as a citizen of West Hartford has the absolute right to express her view. That is called first amendment. She didn’t mention individuals. In fact Mary’s view is a view shared by the majority. But, the fact that we are quite and respect your individual right does not mean we allow you to trample on our right. You seem to think everyone should agree with your worldview. That is why you are attacking this decent and respectful individual. That is called bullying and intimidating. You can make your point without attacking and slandering your fellow citizen. Be civil in your discussions, please.
Congratulations on kicking children out of the public library.
Oh, and BTW: It was not canceled, it merely moved across the plaza to Barnes & Noble. Whoops, caught you lying!
When you present a real man or woman in a false costume and show it to kids as the opposite sex, are you not teaching the kids a fake and false lifestyle? Are you not confusing them? How can one be proud of such deception? Lies and misleading should be condemned and NOT condoned.