Greenwich Commemorates Pride Month With Flag Raising

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich community gathered on Thursday morning in front of Town Hall to raise the rainbow flag and commemorate Pride Month.

Several local and state elected officials were in attendance, along with a crowd of about 30 people. The idea for the ceremony was brought to First Selectman Fred Camillo by resident, Wells Noonan. Camillo then consulted with Drew Marzullo, who was the first openly gay Greenwich selectman when he served on the Board of Selectmen from 2009-2017.

Marzullo spoke briefly at the flag raising ceremony, and said that Pride events "have a real purpose."

"It's an opportunity to show a 10-year-old or a 15-year-old or a 16-year-old gay child — who might feel different, who may be feeling singular — that they are not alone, that people like all of us today are watching, listening, and we're caring," Marzullo said.

While there has been great progress in the United States regarding equality, Marzullo pointed out that in roughly 50 countries, being gay is illegal. He said there's still more work that needs to be done.

"While we all may be celebrating in our own little way today, either publicly or privately, it's still important and purposeful. It might be as purposeful today in 2021 than in 1989 when I graduated from high school. In 1989 this wouldn't be happening," he said, joking that he would deny being gay while saying that only his boyfriend was. The crowd laughed and applauded.

Camillo said the flag raising exemplified Greenwich.

"Today’s flag raising ceremony was another example of a community that is welcoming and inclusive. The speeches were upbeat and celebratory, and the atmosphere positive," he said after the ceremony. "I want to thank and salute my friend and former selectman, Drew Marzullo, who did the honors of raising the flag and made us all think, smile, and laugh with his remarks as well as my friend Wells Noonan, who called me a few weeks ago to request that we hold this ceremony."

Noonan said she wanted to bring everyone together to commemorate Pride Month, especially coming out of the pandemic.

"I just feel that it's time to share support and spread the love after everything we've all been through the past year. I think our youth really need to know that the older generations think of them no differently, and that we celebrate their individuality as part of the LGBTQ+ community."

Noonan has been selling Greenwich Pride signs to businesses and residents. Proceeds from the sales will go towards the Lighthouse Program at Kids in Crisis. The program, run by Joe Belisle, is a peer-to-peer social group for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies for ages 11 to 19.

"I know so many kids who are in the closet, and something like this means so much. Symbols matter. Just to see that [sign around town] relaxes a kid," Belisle said.

To date, Noonan has sold 100 signs in Greenwich.

United States Congressman Jim Himes (D-4), a Greenwich resident, was also in attendance. He said it's important to acknowledge the dark past regarding discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, like the poor response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, or the killing of Matthew Sheppard, a college student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten and killed because he was gay in 1998.

But Himes said it's important to celebrate the present and look to a brighter and more equal future for all.

"This is also a celebration. What a story of progress," he said. "Here we are, where marriage equality is the law of the land, where we can stand in communities like Greenwich and come together regardless of party, religion or disposition and say that in this country, all people are created equal regardless of who they choose to love or their gender identity."