On June 1, Everett High observed its 5th annual Pride flag raising ceremony. At the event, Mayor Robert Van Campen, Superintendent William Hart, several members of the city council, the school committee and DESE were all present, as well as CHA professionals and student families. Everett High principal Dr. John Braga and a handful of other administrators and students gave special speeches at the beginning of the event.
Many fun activities were available for attendees to enjoy. Students were able to partake in mini-games, short quizzes and trivia rounds. Stalls with books, bracelets and jewelry were also set up, as were food trucks that served much-loved snacks and ice cream.
Alongside the games and activities, some stalls were set up by the Cambridge Health Alliance for information regarding sexuality and sexual health in LGBTQ+ communities.
“The purpose is to support our LGBTQ+ Community,” Braga said. “We wanted to showcase that, here at Everett High, everyone is welcome.”
“For the longest time, the LGBTQ community has been suppressed and seen as abominations to the world,” sophomore Brianna Jean Denis said, speaking on the historical and continuing importance of celebrating Pride. “We went through so much–getting murdered, being excluded from certain activities. All of that kinda helped us to be who we are today. So I think it’s important that we celebrate all that we went through to get to this point.”
“It’s a lot more accepting here than my middle school,” freshman Ren Pierre Louis-Cole said. “It’s not as judgmental. We’re being accepted and noticed, and not being discriminated against anymore.”
The event lasted roughly two hours, from 3 to 5 PM.
Aside from the annual Pride flag raising, Pride Month at EHS is being celebrated with rainbow decorations as well as informative and supportive posters seen throughout the school.
Support for the LGBTQ+ community is a constant work in progress, but it’s brightest now in the month of June.
