By Rebecca Andre
ANDES — Just beyond a flag and flower-wrapped arbor, in the back garden of a popular small-town watering hole, a celebration of love, diversity, and growth took place this past Saturday at the Andes Hotel. The crowd, colorfully clad in all the hues of the rainbow, gathered to celebrate the local queer community and their fierce allies.
June is known as Pride Month, commemorating the international gay rights movement that was born in the wake of the Stonewall Riots that broke out on June 28, 1969, in Greenwich Village, NYC between police and the daring patrons of Stonewall Inn, a dive bar frequented by gay, trans and gender-nonconforming people. It took 30 years for June to become officially recognized, when President Bill Clinton proclaimed June 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.
For the LGBTQIA+ community, June is a month of promise, the start of summer, a time to be proud, joyful, and grateful for strides that have been made in support of their minority, and yes, a time to celebrate, party, and dance!
Delaware County Pride, an organization working towards non-profit status, serves the queer community of Delaware County in the Catskill Mountains. Ryan Hallett is the newly appointed Executive Director. In a letter to the community earlier this year, Hallett explained, “Delaware County Pride is more than just an organization, it is a movement whose vision extends beyond the present…We are working to build a robust foundation that will carry Delaware County Pride into a future filled with growth, inclusivity, and positive change.”
Positivity was in abundance at Saturday’s lively Pride event, ‘Bloom,’ now in its third year at the Andes Hotel. Neighbors and visitors assembled to dance, tell stories, and be entertained by DJ Sara Sisco and four fabulous drag queens. Family-friendly activities took place from 4-6 pm, with the more adult activities commencing after 6 pm. Much laughter, and funds, were raised. New and old friends gathered, still grateful for an opportunity to attend yet another post-pandemic party.
Those who attended were observed to be having quite a lot of fun. It seems the mission of Delaware County Pride to “foster a supportive and inclusive environment for the LGBTQIA + community and allies” and to “work tirelessly toward the eradication of discrimination in all its forms,” is having an effect on the local communities. Pride is blossoming.
Hallett was beyond pleased with the turnout on Saturday. After striking a pose with Andes Town Clerk Carol Ames in front of a rainbow tinseled backdrop he said, “There aren’t many opportunities for the queer community in Delaware County to come together, but we give people a chance to, and they do. It’s beautiful.”
For more information on the Delaware County Pride organization and its upcoming events, or to find out how you can show your support, go to delawarecountypride.org or follow on Instagram @delawarecountypride.
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