The annual LGBT pride march in Northampton in its first year was viewed as a novelty, with many of its 500 participants disguising their identity because they feared retribution. Thirty-six years later, it is a celebratory event that draws an estimated 40,000 people to the city and this year shared an international message of solidarity.
That first march, in 1982, occurred when it was still unusual for members of the LGBT community to come out publicly, and they were subjected to hate crimes and harassment even in Northampton that had a reputation for being more tolerant than other communities. That year’s march and rally were preceded by a spat between its organizers, the Gay and Lesbian Activists, and city officials over whether a $300 security deposit was needed for use of Pulaski Park.
The 37th annual Noho Pride Day on Saturday featured a rally at the Three County Fairgrounds during which Mayor David Narkewicz read this proclamation: “Northampton Pride is a time to celebrate the incredible strength and diversity of our LGBTQ community and to reflect upon the hard-fought progress we’ve made fighting for their equality and civil rights. Pride must also be a time for continued vigilance and activism as our LGBTQ brothers and sisters still face discrimination, violence and political efforts to roll back those hard-fought rights.”
Among the participants was Congressman James McGovern, of Worcester, who observed, “I’m so happy to be out of Washington, D.C., where there is so much hate and to be here in Northampton where there is so much love.”
His words were echoed by Councillor Gareth Eales, the mayor of Northampton, England, who was at that town’s first pride celebration when he delivered his message across the Atlantic, via a video chat on Skype. He described Saturday as an “international love affair of solidarity,” and added, “We must always ensure that love overcomes hate.”
In 1982, the gay rights movement was still young and organizers of the first pride rally in Northampton aimed their message at the straight community. “It is time to acknowledge and affirm the existence and the significant contribution of lesbian and gay people to every part of our political and cultural life. We live on almost every street, we work at almost every kind of job imaginable … we are everywhere.”
Still, not all those who participated that year were eager to be publicly identified. Some marched with bags over their heads, with one also carrying a sign reading: “Oppression is not my bag.” Some in the gay and lesbian community reported receiving threatening phone calls the day before the parade.
For everyone who did show up, “there were probably 10 who couldn’t come here at all,” Elaine McCrate, a spokeswoman for the Gay and Lesbian Activists, said on that May day in 1982. “It’s still pretty dangerous for people to be visibly gay in their hometown.”
The mood was far different Saturday, and older marchers marveled at how times have changed. Allan Arnaboldi and his husband Mitch Sorensen, of Springfield, are part of the Senior Gay Men’s Group that has met at the Northampton Senior Center for a decade.
Arnaboldi recalled marching in the early pride parades in Northampton and the fear felt by some of the other participants. “Growing up, you might have had the feeling you were the only gay man out there,” he said. “A lot of young people might not know what we went through, the work we’ve done to get us all to this place. We hope to share the knowledge of where we came from with young people.”
Suzanne Arnopolin and her wife, Ronnie Williams, of Whately, said they made a point of returning from Florida, where they spent the winter, for Noho Pride Day. “I get tears in my eyes seeing all these young people here today. These kids don’t know any different than to just be who they are,” Arnopolin said. “They’re free. I think Massachusetts is nirvana for LGBTQ+ people.”
That’s a proud achievement for all members of that community and their supporters.