LGBTQ Advisory Committee Hosts First Pride Day At City Hall

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle LGBTQ Advisory Committee, formed in 2019, finally had a chance to host its first New Rochelle Pride Day at City Hall after a global pandemic limited large public gatherings for much of last year.

City officials joined the LGBTQ Advisory Committee and New Rochelle Pride for their New Rochelle Pride Day at New Rochelle City Hall. The event was their second in-person Pride month celebration. A pride flag-raising ceremony at city hall was held on June 1.

“For some people, they would look at this occasion and say that it signifies progress in the mode of withdrawing negative judgement, moving beyond the history of bigotry and discrimination into something that is more like 'live and let live,'" New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said at the public ceremony. “In a sense, that’s true. But it’s also entirely inadequate because this occasion is obviously much more than that. This is a celebration. It is a positive affirmation of the principle that when we are true to ourselves, when we are honest with ourselves and honest with each other, and when we support each other with respect and love, it makes us happier human beings.”

The New Rochelle LGBTQ Advisory Committee was formed in 2019 in order to advocate for the LGBTQ Community in the city. New Rochelle was recently awarded high marks in the Human Right’s Campaign Municipality Index. The city received the maximum score of 103. The index grades cities in the U.S. based on the municipality's respect for LGBTQ rights, issues and friendliness towards the community.

LGBTQ Advisory Committee members and Community Liaison Sam Gomez spoke at the first of what is expected to be an annual event. Mayor Bramson and Rev. Jennie Telley also offered remarks.

The New Rochelle Youth Bureau, The New Rochelle Public Library, The Humane Society of Westchester, The LOFT LGBTQ Community Center, Narayan Pharmacy and New England Fertility participated in the celebration. Refreshments were provided by Baked in Color.