Traditionally, Northampton, Massachusetts, holds one of the first Pride celebrations each year, NoHo Pride. But back in March, COVID-19 put the kabash on the parade, festival and other gatherings scheduled for Saturday, May 2.
And so organizers quickly got busy coming up with an alternative way to mark NoHo Pride 2020—one of the first among the many ways that Pride celebrations are creatively responding to COVID-19 cancelations around the world this year.
Partnering with local radio stations 93.9 The River, WHMP, Hits 94.2 and Pure Oldies 96.9, they’ve created the original crowd-sourced video “Virtual Pride Parade: Pride through Your Lens,” which posted on Pride Day, May 2, 2002, at noon on 93.9 The River’s Facebook page.
“We asked, and you answered!” reads the Facebook event page posting. “Over the last few weeks we’ve received some amazing community-submitted videos which are featured in our 2020 Virtual Noho Pride project! We can’t wait to share it with all of you! This video project is comprised ENTIRELY of videos from local LGBTQ+ and allied community members, local businesses, schools, and more!
Reports Northampton’s Daily Hampshire Gazette:
In March, event organizers announced the in-person celebration was canceled. “In terms of what it was like to make that decision, it’s hard to even attach words to that,” said Anna Hoff, Noho Pride director of operations.
“Ultimately, it was really an incredibly difficult decision to make,” she said. “At the end of the day, it comes down to the safety of our community.”
Northampton Radio reached out to Noho Pride about the possibility of a Pride video project, Hoff said.
“Being our festival is one of the first that takes place, we were like, ‘OK we don’t have too long to put this together,’” she said. Most pride celebrations happen in June, LGBTQ pride month.
So, the groups put out a call on social media: “We want to see your PRIDE!” a Noho Pride Facebook post reads. “Give us some family-friendly content showing how YOU celebrate Pride.”
They received more than 50 submissions from individuals and groups, Hoff said.
“We got a lot of people sending messages,” she said. “It was just a really nice amalgamation of happiness in so many different forms.”
During the pandemic, some people “may be living their worst nightmare” and may not be in a place to celebrate, Hoff said. But, “for some people, they really need Pride and want Pride to happen.”
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