About Middletown Pride — Middletown Pride

Middletown Pride is a collaboration between the City of Middletown, Connecticut,
the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, Wesleyan University, the Russell Library, and Middlesex Health.

Who We Are

Welcome to Middletown Pride! We are a pride organization in Middletown, CT, that provides resources, education, services, grants, scholarships, and holds FREE events for our local LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit) community year-round.

Middletown Pride also hosts the State of Connecticut’s largest pride event—Middletown PrideFEST—in downtown Middletown, Connecticut annually on the first Saturday of June. In fair weather conditions, PrideFEST draws approximately 20,000 individuals, over 130 vendors, and over 80 marching groups from all over New England to downtown Middletown. PrideFEST consists of our Pride March, Pride Rally, Pride Showcase Concerts, and Tea Dance at PrideFEST. This extraordinary demonstration and celebration is a testament to our community’s commitment to unity, diversity, and equality. Together, we stand as a beacon of pride and empowerment, creating a space where all are welcome, celebrated, and empowered.

Pride Values Statement

We, the organizers of Middletown Pride, acknowledge Pride first and foremost as a demonstration intended to benefit and empower marginalized members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. We believe Pride is more than just a party. We acknowledge that within our community, LGBTQIA2S+ people still face monumental challenges. Therefore, we commit to creating a Pride event that is inclusive, diverse, intersectional, educational, sustainable, and as self-sufficient as possible.

Inclusivity

We affirm that community is built by sharing. Whenever possible, we will use our privilege and offer our resources to those who are marginalized or oppressed. We will seek out those who typically are not invited, or may not feel safe or welcome. We will greet them warmly, invite them to celebrate with us, and hold space for them.

Diversity

We affirm that diversity is strength. We will make efforts to include diverse people and perspectives, and will take note if people of specific races, colors, religions, genders, ages, ancestries, disability statuses, or sexual orientations are underrepresented in our events.

Intersectionality

We affirm that the LGBTQIA2S+ community has intersecting identities which compound oppression and will consider those needs when planning events. This includes black people, indigenous people and people of color, disabled, deaf, and neuro-diverse communities, immigrant, and other marginalized and historically oppressed identities.

Willingness to Learn and Be Kind

We affirm the need to continue to educate ourselves. As a community, we still have so much to learn. It is never the responsibility of the oppressed to educate the ignorant. We will do our best to educate ourselves and to pass on what we have learned.

We affirm that kindness counts. We value “calling up” over “calling out”. When we make a mistake, we hope you’ll meet us as friends who could benefit from your wisdom.

Sustainability

We affirm that we must cooperate to make Pride last. We hope to have an annual event in perpetuity. We hope to endear ourselves to the Middletown community, and create value. Further, we will embrace sustainable environmental practices that respect our community.

Self-Sufficiency

We affirm our Pride as a local community event. Aware of the legacy of pink-washing at Pride events, we endeavor to be financially self-sufficient. It is wonderful when corporations and businesses share our values, but sponsorship complicates the message of Pride and dilutes our authenticity. While visitors from all parts of the world are explicitly invited to participate at our events, we are, first and foremost, a celebration by Middletown, for Middletown. Likewise, we endeavor to use local contacts, vendors, organizations, etc. whenever possible, so that our celebration both represents and benefits our local community.

History of Middletown Pride

Middletown Pride was started by Christopher Forte, Assistant General Counsel for the City of Middletown. In March 2018, Forte approached then Mayor Daniel T. Drew, and requested that the City of Middletown fly the pride flag at City Hall during Pride Month. Mayor Drew agreed, and for the first time in Middletown’s history, ordered the Pride Flag raised at City Hall. The reaction from the community was overwhelmingly positive. In response, Mayor Drew and AGC Forte, got to work to create Middletown Pride. The City of Middletown partnered with the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce and Wesleyan University. Both organizations are founding partners of Middletown Pride, and continue to be crucial to Middletown Pride to this day.

Then, Mayor Drew and AGC Forte worked with the Middletown Common Council to secure the passage of Ordinance 14-59, a groundbreaking step that established Middletown’s very first LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee. When it was created, the committee’s singular mission was to organize the city’s inaugural pride event. Together with the newly formed Committee, the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, and Wesleyan University, AGC Forte laid the foundation for Middletown’s first-ever pride event.

On June 15, 2019, Middletown Pride marked a historic moment by holding its inaugural pride parade and festival. The event was remarkable, drawing approximately 15,000 individuals from across New England, instantly cementing its place as Connecticut’s largest pride event.

2020

Middletown Pride welcomed the Russell Library as an official partner of Pride.

2021

On February 1, 2021, Mayor Benjamin Florsheim and Middletown’s Common Council once again showcased their support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community by transforming Middletown’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee into its first LGBTQIA+ Commission, increasing the scope of its mandate as well as the number of community members able to serve on the Commission.

Middletown Pride achieved a milestone by hosting pride events that embraced and celebrated the LGBTQIA2S+ community throughout the entire year. This marked a significant step in Middletown Pride’s mission to promote visibility and acceptance not only during Pride Month, but all year.

2022

Middletown Pride created the Middletown Pride Community Grant Program! Middletown Pride’s first recipient, Q+ partnered with Middletown Pride to bring events for queer preteens, youth, and parents of queer teens to Middletown every month.
Mayor Benjamin Florsheim and AGC Forte brought LGBTQIA+ 101 training to all members of City staff, so that members of the community can feel safe when they seek governmental and other necessary services at City Hall.
Middletown Pride also hosted an impressive array of over 10 events throughout the month of June alone. From Drag Artist Exhibits at City Hall, Drag Queen Story Hours to LGBTQIA+ Band Nights, Movie Nights, Teen Events, Open Mic gatherings, Charity Drag Shows, honoring those in our community who have paved the way for us, and more, Middletown Pride became a platform for connection, celebration, and empowerment.

2023

Middletown Pride held a record 15 social events throughout the year, including 8 during Pride Month. A record 20,000 people participated in Middletown PrideFEST 2023, which included a Pride March, Pride Rally, two Pride Showcase Concerts, and for the first-time ever, our Tea Dance at Middletown Pride in collaboration with Jerry’s Pizza.
Middletown Pride donated $1,000 to PeerPride and the Middletown Ujima Alliance on behalf of our Grand Marshal’s Karleigh C. Webb and Hella Swagg, to support the critical and important work that they do for the community.
Middletown Pride also provided significant support to both of the state’s LGBTQ+ Community Centers.
Finally, the City’s LGBTQIA+ Commission created the Community Event Program, which offers at least one social event for the community every month.

We are looking forward to bigger and better things in 2024! Already, we have created the first-ever Middletown Pride Scholarship Program, which will offer $1,000 scholarships to LGBTQIA2S+ seniors graduating from any Middletown high school, and we have much more in store!