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Date: 6/6/2023
AMHERST — Just moments ahead of a raging thunderstorm, a pride flag was raised high atop the flagpole at the town hall following the joint reading of a proclamation declaring June LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Amherst.
District 5 Council member Ana Devlin Gauthier opened the June 2 ceremony, introducing Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) who, in recognizing the proclamation, also acknowledged the current allegations against staff members at the middle school accusing them of improper conduct towards LGTBQ+ students and the subsequent Title IX investigation.
“Our community went full throttle to support them, to have their back, to hold ourselves accountable, to hold our elected officials accountable and to really take action to show allyship support and love,” Domb said.
Domb went on to offer particular praise to the student journalists at the high school who brought the story and allegations forth in their newspaper. This led to three middle school staff members being placed on leave along with Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham. Shortly after the aricle came out, Superintendent Michael Morris stepped away for a medical absence and Finance Director Dr. Douglas Slaughter was named acting superintendent.
“Pride shouldn’t only happen in June, we shouldn’t only love and accept people and help to create an environment where they can be their authentic selves in June,” Domb offered. “But June’s a good time to remember that this wasn’t always the case for the gay community,” she added.
The crowd in attendance included local members of the LGBTQ+ community and town officials, including Mandie Jo Hannake, one of three council sponsors of this year’s proclamation along with Gauthier and Pat De Angelis.
Gauthier shared with the crowd some words she wrote when the proclamation was first offered for consideration, noting that while proclamations and flag raisings may be symbolic, symbols carry power.
“Let this proclamation carry power in its message of love, care, compassion and fight. We will continue to fight, continue to love and continue to care for our community. To our LGBTQ+ residents and especially to our youth, we see you, we support you, we celebrate you and we are going to fight like hell for you and alongside you,” Gauthier resolved.
Town residents Barbara and Jim Pistrang came to witness the event, the first time for both of them.
“Any small thing we can do to help contribute to acceptance of everyone in our community is important to me,” Barbara Pistrang said.
Jim Pistrang, who said he had coached kids at the middle school in the past said the current activities involving staff and the LGTBQ+ students there has been on his mind.
The proclamation was read aloud by council members and representatives from the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School Sexuality and Gender Alliance, who are community co-sponsors of the declaration.
Pride activities involving residents and members of the business community will continue throughout the month of June.