‘Rally in Support of LGBTQIA+ Lives’ Will be Sunday in West Hartford
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More than a dozen organizations are sponsoring a rally on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square.
By Ronni Newton
A large rally is planned for West Hartford on Sunday morning, Nov. 17, with at least 14 organizations sponsoring the event that is intended to bring together the LGBTQIA+ community.
“We want to uplift voices and be a show of force and solidarity for the community,” said Barry Walters, co-chair of West Hartford Pride and a member of the West Hartford Town Council. “That’s exactly what we’re aiming for, but also to be a foundation for future action.”
The rally will include a call for action, and offer the opportunity for attendees to sign up for involvement in future activities that will be planned to support and protect the community.
“There’s a lot of fear, sadness, uncertainty of what’s going to happen next,” said Walters, in the wake of the presidential election. Representatives of the various organizations that support the LGBTQIA+ community know that they will be stronger if they act together.
West Hartford Pride got involved in the early stages of planning Sunday’s rally, joining Equality Connecticut and Out Accountability Project CT. West Hartford, with its location in the central part of the state, was seen as an ideal location and the Webster Walk area of Blue Back Square – where a Pride flag is painted in the middle of the Isham Road – was secured as the space for the rally, which will begin at 11 a.m. and last for about 90 minutes, Walters said.
“I think it’s going to be a large number,” Walters said of the expected attendance, particularly since there are now 14 organizations sponsoring it from throughout the state, as well as other groups that plan to attend.
The line-up of speakers has not been announced yet, but will be focused one LGBTQ voices. “We will include youth voices as well,” Walters said. Elected officials have also been invited to attend. There will also be music as part of the rally.
“I think it’s going to be a great event,” Walters said. “We want there to be joy, but also know there will be some sadness.”
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What is going to happen next? Who is taking your rights away? You already live in the most supportive state and most supportive town. Is this an “orange man bad” rally?
Also, I am asking for some of my friends are gay Trump voters welcome at this event?
Ronni,
Why isn’t We-Ha.com included in the list of “presented by”? Are you ashamed of being an ally?
It’s also really insensitive (and violent) to just truncate the acronym at the + symbol.
Seriously, why bother with this coy framing of an event as in-support-of-gay-lives instead just speaking-your-truth that the winner of the election is not-your-president?
It’s past time to rename We-Ha.com’s tagline from “We have it all in West Hartford” to “This is the West Hartford branch of MSNBC”.
Hi Harold. We-Ha.com does not “present” rallies of any type. We do not issue endorsements either, and never have. And, the acronym used is what was on the flyer, not something I made up or shortened. It was not my decision to truncate anything, but rather to use the terminology that the organizers of the rally used. If you would like to discuss our policies, please email me at [email protected] and I am glad to set up a time for further discussion. ~Ronni
Wow Kevin Boudreau and Harold Rice seem to be very “triggered” by a PRIDE event article. Such overly dramatic responses to a pretty plain news article makes me wonder why you both are so “sensitive” to reading about LGBT+ people having a community event. Would an Italian Festival, Jamaican Festival or West Hartford Holiday Stroll get you so up in arms. I hope you find some peace and happiness in your life this Holiday season.
The reason Paul is because this is not an LGBT event — its a subtle (or not so subtle) bash Trump and his supporters event.
What rights are you losing? You’re not losing any rights to abortion under Trump. It’s it’s a state rights issue.
Trump is going to enforce existing immigration law. Again what rights are you losing?
The only thing that will be vigorously blocked and stopped by the Trump administration — is child castration. Clearly I hope we can agree that this is wrong —-or are you guys all sharpening your knives for a drive-through clinic somewhere in town? Lol. 😂
Are you ok? You seem a bit off, joking about child castration and talking about Trump and abortion & immigration laws. As I said earlier your response seems a bit exaggerated/dramatic.
Please stop being such snowflakes. The trump campaign ran numerous anti-trans commercials to get the Evangelical and culture warrior votes. There are lgbtq book bans throughout the country led by maga folks. Stop pretending you don’t know.
I support your right to free speech. You are well known anti-Trump activist with almost all recent social media posts being against him. As long as you support my right to speak out against vaccines and the excesses of liberalism — all is well. I am 100% anti-censorship.