Arlington PRIDE is Sunday, June 9
Please join us for the Rainbow Commission's second annual PRIDE Picnic! Bring a blanket and eat in the fresh air, or head inside for tables and chairs away from of the sun. Be sure to pack a lunch (and bring your reusable water bottles). We'll have frozen treats, water, and rainbow swag waiting for you. Be sure to check out our Pride buttons and rainbow bracelets, stickers, and temporary tattoos.
For the young at heart, a balloon twister will be there 2-3 pm to make you a balloon rainbow or other creation. The crafts room will have coloring books, yarn and crochet hooks, needlepoint kits, and more. Or hang out outside and play unicorn ring toss, blow bubbles, play Jenga, or hula hoop.
Most important, we hope you will join us in celebrating our wonderful LGBTQIA+ community and honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising that inspired Pride.
This event is supported by individual donations and a grant from the Boston Pride Community Fund. Cosponsored by the Human Rights Commission, the Council on Aging, and the Robbins Library.
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Queeraoke at Porchfest Saturday, June 8
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ music with queer karaoke at the Rainbow Commission's PRIDE Stage at Arlington Porchfest, emceed by Jaclyn Friedman.
Find us at Stage 50, on the steps of the Academy St. entrance to the Senior Center, 27 Maple St. In the event of rain, Porchfest will be combined with the Pride Picnic on Sunday.
While you're there, check out Sarah Wright's exhibit "Irresistible Drawings to See from a Distance."
This event is supported by a grant from the Boston Pride Community Fund. Cosponsored by the Council on Aging.
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Volunteers needed for Pride events!
We're looking for volunteers to help out at the Porchfest PRIDE Stage June 8 and the PRIDE Picnic June 9!
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Select Board signs Pride Proclamation
At the beginning of their June 3 meeting, the Arlington Select Board declared June to be Pride Month in Arlington and thanked the Rainbow Commission for our work. Acting Police Chief Julie Flaherty made a wonderful statement of support and updated the Board on some training the police are doing around LGBTQIA+ issues. You can watch the meeting on ACMi.tv. A copy of the Proclamation is on display at the Robbins Library and will also be available at the Pride Picnic.
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50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
This year’s Pride celebrations mark the 50th anniversary of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn resulting from a discriminatory police raid on the bar, which was a popular hangout for the trans and LGB+ community. You can read President Obama’s proclamation at the establishment of the Stonewall National Monument for a great history lesson. Also, the Reel Queer film series is screening Stonewall Uprising on June 13 at 6:30 pm in the Robbins Library’s Community Room, 700 Mass Ave.
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Rainbow Commission applications open
The Town of Arlington seeks to appoint 2 members to the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission. The Rainbow Commission promotes equality-affirming policies regarding the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities, and brings greater visibility and empowerment to the LGBTQIA+ population through education, advocacy, and collaboration with other Town agencies, schools, and community groups. The Commission also works to foster community and connection among Arlington's LGBTQIA+ population, from youth to families and elders.
The Town works to have Commission membership be equitable and inclusive. All are welcome to apply. If you reside in the Town of Arlington, are 18 years or older, and are interested in becoming a member of the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission, please send your resume and letter of interest to: Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine, 730 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 or townmanager@town.arlington.ma.us.
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Rainbow Commission meeting info
Rainbow Commission meetings are generally the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm in the Robbins Library 4th floor conference room, 700 Mass Ave. All Rainbow Commission meetings are open to the public. Check the Town calendar to confirm meeting dates and locations and to see meeting agendas.
All Rainbow Commission meetings and events are open to the public. Please contact rainbow@town.arlington.ma.us if you need accommodations. We regret that we generally do not provide ASL interpretation or assistive listening devices, but if you let us know at least a day before the meeting, we can bring a laptop to help with communication. Because of a shortage of qualified interpreters, we need at least 2 weeks notice to line up an ASL interpreter.
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Assistance programs in Arlington
If you are in Arlington and need help making ends meet, please see the Town's website for information regarding the Food Pantry, affordable housing, fuel assistance, sports and activities assistance, and other programs.
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