Guilford to Host First Pride Event on May 21
The Town of Guilford will honor and celebrate its LGBTQIA+ community with its first-ever Pride Event and Parade on Sunday, May 21 on the Guilford Green. The event has been postponed from its originally scheduled date of May 20.
Sarah Celotto, chair of the event committee, said the Guilford community has a long tradition of being inclusive and accepting to all its residents, and the Pride event will be focused on celebrating that history and pride.
“We are very, very excited about the event. We have some great sponsorships from local businesses here in town and even from surrounding towns,” Celotto said. “A lot of folks are really looking forward to this. The community has been great, and we are so grateful to Guilford for jumping on board with this event.”
Celotto said this first-ever event will include a Pride parade, entertainment, food, vendors, speakers, and more. She estimated 35 vendors will participate.
“There is going to be entertainment, and a parade at 1 p.m., food trucks, and also speakers throughout the day,” said Cellotto. “There will also be a number of vendors, probably close to 35 vendors. There’ll be plenty of food, pizza, and salad, ice cream, and the Guilford marketplace will be donating food as well. It’s going to be a really fun day for everyone.”
Guilford’s reputation for tolerance and rejection of bigotry dates back to its initial founding and relationships with native peoples, to its abolitionist roots, and as a stop on the Underground Railroad. With that history, some might ask why a town like Guilford needs to host a Pride event. Celotto said that question answers itself.
“I think that is exactly why we are only now holding our first event. Guilford is such a progressive town, and you do feel a whole lot of love and acceptance in this town. So much so that maybe folks didn’t feel there was a true need for one. However, given the political climate that we’re in, given the fact that our LGBTQ+ youth are publicly worried about what their future is going look like, as well as the rights of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole being at the point where their rights are being taken away in some parts of our country, I felt like we really do need this. Even though this is a great, loving, and accepting community, there are those who really need a reminder of that and really need to feel that love. I think we are seeing a lot more towns in the area hold Pride events and Pride weeks.”
The event will feature performances by Carrie Ashton, Schuyler Beeman, and Beach Side Property. Lenny Courtemancho will serve as MC.
Guilford Pride is on Sunday, May 21 from noon to 4 p.m. A Pride parade around the Guilford Green will step off at 1 p.m.
For more information, visit www.guilfordpride.com or email info@guilfordpride.com.