Westport’s Pride month events series includes a family friendly drag show, film screenings, a Pride celebration on Jesup Green, and programming at Westport Public Schools
Westport, CT (May 18, 2022) – Westport Pride, a Westport, CT-based organization focused on creating a more welcoming and connected community for Westport’s LGBTQ+ residents, is pleased to announce its upcoming schedule of events for the community’s second annual Pride Month celebration.
The events, which will be held in-person throughout the month of June, aim to bring residents together to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ residents, issues, and concerns; increase understanding through education and intersectionality; provide support, mentorship, and inspiration to the community’s future leaders; inspire advocates into action; and sharing the community’s pride, culture, and accomplishments.
“We’re really excited to bring together Westport residents from all walks of life to celebrate Pride Month,” said Brian McGunagle, founder of Westport Pride. “This is a real opportunity for Westport to show that it’s the inclusive and artistic community that it purports to be,” said McGunagle.
2022 Westport Pride Month events include:
June 2: To Wong Foo, Thanks Julie Newmar!
Come kick off Pride Month at the Drive-in with this 1995 comedy directed by Beeban Kidron and staring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo. Three New York drag queens on their way to Hollywood for a beauty pageant get stranded in a small Midwestern town for the entire weekend when their car breaks down. While waiting for parts for their Cadillac convertible, the flamboyant trio shows the local homophobic rednecks that appearing different doesn’t mean they don’t have humanity in common.
This screening will take place at 8:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.remarkabletheater.org
June 3: Bedford Middle School, Coleytown Middle School, and Staples High School Pride Day Celebration, 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Bedford Middle School and Coleytown Middle School will be making history this year by hosting Connecticut’s first ever middle school Pride Day celebration on Friday, June 3 to celebrate the history and resiliency of the LGBTQ+ community. Hosted by the Westport Public Schools Pride Coalition, the event features the debut of the new Staples High School and Middle School Mentorship Program led by Staples faculty and Coalition Chair, Kayla Iannetta. There will also be a celebration at Staples High School as well, continuing last year’s inaugural event.
June 4: All 4 Drag and Drag for All, MoCA Westport, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Join Westport Pride in an epic family friendly drag experience at MoCA Westport. Drag is an important part of the LGBTQ+ community’s history and Westport Pride is celebrating it in a show for all ages. Doors open at 5:30 PM for cocktail hour (with a cash bar) and the show begins at 6:30 PM. The show includes performances and discussions with four amazing entertainers.
Desmond Napoles (stage name: Desmond is Amazing) is a 15-year old drag kid, award-winning LGBTQ advocate, outspoken unapologetic gay youth, performer, model, public speaker, founder of their own drag house, fashion designer, and voguer from New York City. “All 4 Drag and Drag for All” also boasts 3 amazing seasoned professionals from Screaming Queens Entertainment. Including the glamorous Ambrosia Black, Angelina Fierce, and Sienna Rose.
Drag 4 All and All for Drag will also be helping close out Punk is Coming, a diverse group exhibition featuring over 50 photographers, filmmakers and artists whose work defined the punk era in the 1970’s. The exhibition closes on June 5.
Tickets are available at: https://bit.ly/3sfvTsu
June 8: How to Survive a Plague
In the late 1980s, AIDS activists battle hostility and indifference to bring attention to the disease and try to reduce the number of victims while hoping to lead the drive to find a cure. This 2012 documentary film about the early years of the AIDS epidemic, and the efforts of activist groups ACT UP and TAG was directed by David France, a journalist who covered AIDS from its beginnings. France’s first film, it was dedicated to his partner Doug Gould who died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1992. The documentary was produced using more than 700 hours of archived footage which included news coverage, interviews as well as film of demonstrations, meetings and conferences taken by ACT UP members themselves.
This screening will take place at 8:30 p.m.; for more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.remarkabletheater.org
June 12: Westport Pride Celebration, Jesup Green, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Westport Pride’s feature event is not to be missed! The entire community is invited to Westport’s Pride Celebration. The celebration will feature a select group of community speakers, performers, and local clergy who will gather to celebrate this event. Jennifer Tooker, Westport Selectwoman, will be issuing a proclamation declaring June Pride Month in Westport. The town will also fly a pride flag on Jesup Green in honor of the event. There will be children’s art activities, face painting, hair and makeup, pride merchandise and swag, and educational materials on hand.
Speakers include:
Jessica Bengtson, Chef and Proprietor, Amis Trattoria and Terrain Café
John Dodig, Principal, Staples High School (ret)
Luke Foreman, Staples High School ‘14
Dr. Nikki Gorman, Village Pediatrics and Westport Medical and Wellness Center
Kayla Iannetta, Westport Public Schools Pride Coalition Chair
Brian McGunagle, Founder, Westport Pride
Students from Staples High School
Students from Bedford Middle School and Coleytown Middle School
Dan Woog, LGBTQ+ Activist, Soccer Coach and educator
Performances by:
Ellery Bodell, https://spoti.fi/3yLUJ74
Ellie Desautels, actor, RISE https://bit.ly/3yILl4h – with Denver Razzi (CMS) and Camille Blundell (CMS)
Sarah Ferro, https://sarahferrosings.com/
Camile Foise, (NYU Tisch)
Colin Konstanty and Mark Aguirre both from TREVOR: THE MUSICAL
Julie Loyd, singer-songwriter, http://www.julieloydmusic.com/
Jamie Mann, https://jamiemartinmann.com/
Quinn Mulvey (SHS)
Vivian (SHS) and Willa Shamie (CMS)
Madelyn Spera (SHS)
June 12: Pride Eucharist – Christ and Holy Trinity, 5 p.m.
This is a come-as-you-are in-person service of scripture, song, prayer, and Holy Eucharist in the Christ and Holy Trinity Courtyard (or spaced out in Branson Hall if it’s cold or raining.) More information at https://chtwestport.org
June 15: Pride Spirit Day – Westport Elementary Schools, 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Pride Month will be celebrated in the elementary schools with a focus on families and the many different ways that a family can be! Students will learn about important LGBTQ+ figures from read-alouds and bulletin boards. The celebration will continue outside the buildings with chalk drawings and messages that spread love and recognize that we ALL deserve to be proud of who we are!
June 17: Pride Cabaret Night! Westport Library, 6:30 p.m.
In celebration of PRIDE month and in partnership with Westport Pride, join us for an evening of music, performing arts and comedy spotlighting the talent of our LGBTQ+ community and hosted by comedienne and activist Mina Hartong!
Originally from Fairfield County, award winning comedienne Mina Hartong (Ladies of Laughter National Finalist, Curve Magazine- One of America’s Funniest Women) has been performing and touring for over twenty years. Favorite shows include Don’t Tell Mama’s, Cipriani’s, Provincetown, and the Montreal Fringe Festival. Mina also Emcees galas and fundraisers and produces her own comedy show Lez Out Loud. When she is not on stage, Mina enjoys teaching Acting and Stand-up Comedy and developing new comics. She taught at Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, CT. Recent appearances include The Triad Theater in New York City.
For more information and to RSVP: https://bit.ly/3PrdSkH
June – August: Summer of Love | Merchants of Pride – Various Locations
Merchants will be offering pride themed items, events and more. A portion of sales will benefit Westport Pride.
Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti – frozen mousse bites for the month of June*
Don Memo/Kawa Ni/The Whelk – signature cocktail for the month of June*
Middlemarch – limited edition rainbow bon-bon necklace made by Jeweled Coquette for month of June
SONO1420 – limited edition PRIDE bottle of SONO1420 vodka
Allium Eatery – signature appetizer for from 6/1 – 8/31*
WEST – Aviator Nation apparel for month of June*
*Indicates portion of proceeds will be donated to Westport Pride
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