Storm clouds were not the only thing casting a shadow over the Pelham Pride Picnic. Anti-LGBTQ actions in other states hung over the celebration, at the same time, encouraging Pelhammites to take action. On June 16, the third annual Pride Picnic filled the Daronco Town House with joy, music, love, support and great food. The celebration spilled out of the packed hall onto the surrounding areas, sending a powerful message to members of the LGBTQ community who may feel unheard.

“We started this event after the Village of Pelham Manor’s board of trustees refused to fly the Pride flag or host any form of Pride event for Pride month,” said organizer Suzanne Snyder.

In the last year, interest in attending the event caused the need for a larger venue, and so the picnic moved to the Pelham Town House (the rain location in place of Gazebo Park in the Village Pelham).

“It’s so magical to just see the smiles on everyone’s faces and know how this community has welcomed everyone and is committed to showing it,” said organizer Alison Frost. “It fills me with joy, and it’s so wonderful.”

The Town of Pelham Public Library and the Pelham Art Center had tables. Teen volunteers from the art center helped kids put on makeup to celebrate pride. 

A teen volunteer who asked not to named spoke about their experience of being in the closet at school. They expressed fear of being bullied or not accepted by their peers. However, being at the picnic and seeing so many people embracing who they are and not being afraid about expressing themselves reassured this person.

At the library’s table, kids wrote letters of support to trans youth and adults in collaboration with the charity Point of Pride. This nonprofit organization provides trans people in need with donations of free chest binders and femme shapewear, which is specially-designed compression underwear worn under one’s clothes to change body shape to look more like a person’s gender identity.

Tasha Gross, a librarian who is trans, said it is imperative for people to support LGBTQ youth and to make sure everyone feels safe and accepted. When asked about how they felt as a librarian and trans person hearing about the banning of books representing LGBTQ characters and issues, they became visibly emotional.

“It’s scary,” Gross said, “I’m scared that it might happen here, but being here and seeing all these people makes it less scary.”

Organizer Steve Salee addressed the crowd, thanking everyone before giving the floor to transgender student Olivio Benitez-Guzman, a junior at Pelham Memorial High School. Benitez-Guzman spoke about the discrimination and bullying he faces daily at school. He used his speech to speak about his identity at a time when people are trying to tear it down.

“Despite going to schools here since kindergarten, in my years in Pelham, I have been on the receiving end of countless instances of bullying,” Benitez-Guzman said.  “I, along with nearly all trans people, must hold our heads high in hopes that a handful of elected leaders won’t try and tear us away from our parents… and the current state of society won’t see me go into a bathroom and try to hurt me, or worse.”

Benitez-Guzman said he does not want to be differentiated from the next person in the community.

“People call us mentally ill, and they ignore us from conversations,” Benitez-Guzman said. “All of this is in an attempt to, and I quote, ‘eradicate transgenderism from public life.’ I am not an ideology, I am not a predator, and I am not confused or mentally ill. I am a son, a brother, a friend, a leader, I am a neighbor and a member of a greater community, and I will not allow myself to be silenced any longer.”

Darra Gordon, Pelham resident and chief operating officer of GLAAD, one of the largest LGBTQ advocacy groups in America, spoke to inform the audience about rising problems.

“I’ll end off with an update on the state of the LGBTQ+ community, and I have to say there isn’t much good news,” she said. 

Gordon cited the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ laws being introduced across the country, mainly targeted at LGBTQ children in families. However, Gordon made sure to end her speech on a positive note by speaking about how 98% of parents believe that all children should feel safe and accepted inside the school and out.