NORTHAMPTON — Each year, thousands of people fill the streets at the city’s Noho Pride celebration. But like many Pride celebrations around the country, this year’s event, initially scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But even a global pandemic is not stopping the city from finding a way to mark Pride.
Noho Pride has teamed up with Northampton Radio Group — 93.9 The River, WHMP, Hits 94.3 and Pure Oldies 96.9 — to create a digital alternative. “Virtual Pride Parade: Pride Through Your Lens,” a crowd-sourced video will be posted Saturday at noon on the 93.9 The River’s Facebook page, facebook.com/939theriver/. The video is a collage of responses to a prompt asking people how they celebrate Pride.
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.”