By EMMA BARTLETT

For the fourth year in a row, Cranston raised the pride flag outside City Hall; it will fly there for the remainder of June.

“It fills my heart to hear and read about so many cities and towns across our state and here in our country recognizing June as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer pride month after the June 1969 riot in New York City,” said councilwoman Lammis Vargas, who hosted last Thursday’s event.

Vargas said that four years ago, she and other council members and colleagues decided it was long overdue that the City of Cranston, knowing its diversity, flew the pride flag outside City Hall.

She also shared the story of her daughter coming out to her and her husband several years ago and recognized that there are not a lot of parents who are welcoming when kids tell them they’re gay.

“We said to her we love her regardless of how she identifies herself as who she is because she will forever be our daughter and we will love her and be there for her each and every day,” Vargas said. “We will be her ears, her shoulder to lean on and advocate for her rights, advocate to make sure she is not bullied, that the LGBTQ community is not discriminated against and that those rights that so many people in our country and in our state have fought for and advocated for will not be changed.”

Mayor Ken Hopkins offered a proclamation recognizing pride month and said while society is slowly recognizing new definitions of gender and sexuality, education and awareness remains vital to end discrimination and prejudice. He said young people should feel valued, safe, empowered and supported by peers, educators and community leaders regardless of sexual orientation and gender.

“The City of Cranston will proudly – and I say proudly – display this rainbow flag representing light, healing, sun, calmness, heart and spirit in front of City Hall for the remainder of the month of June,” said Hopkins.

General Treasurer Seth Magaziner attended Thursday’s event, and spoke to the legal protections Rhode Island has in place for the LGBTQ+ community. While individuals cannot be fired from their jobs, kicked out of housing or denied service at a restaurant because of their identity, this does not occur everywhere.

Magaziner spoke about advocating for marriage equality rights 20 years ago with a college group. He said the polling numbers were low – but what made the difference was gay and lesbian Rhode Islanders telling their stories about how they didn’t choose this but it was unfair to be denied the right to marry someone they loved because of something they had no control over.

CJ Miller, communications director for the Rhode Island Political Action Committee, spoke about the importance of LGBTQ+ voter engagement.

“Voter engagement is vital to protecting our rights and the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said Miller.

Miller said LGBTQ+ rights are continuously under attack. He recognized Magaziner’s point about Rhode Island not being able to kick people out of their jobs for their sexuality but added that there are kids who are kicked out of their homes every day because they come out to their families who are not accepting of them.

“When those kids get kicked out, the state has nothing right now to support homeless youth – especially those disproportionately affected, like those in our community so they end up on the street. Voter engagement is where that can be fixed,” Miller said.

Dion Baker – a minister of the Congressional Life at the Powerhouse Church of Providence, community activist, former host of the Providence Report and former Mr. Gay Rhode Island 2013 – followed Miller’s seriousness while also adding joy to the event.

“Today I celebrate that we can stand here and be proud and be loud and say we’re queer, we’re here and we’re not going anywhere,” said Baker.

He focused on the gay rights movement.

He said people in the LGBTQ+ community have always relied on and protected one another; when Latino and Brown people were kicked out of their homes in the 70s, Black individuals and transwomen (such as Crystal and Lottie LaBeija) opened up houses that became sanctuaries for young LGBTQ+ people. He said when the community fought for that as well.

“With everything going on with the don’t say gay bill, anti-transgender legislation being brought up…we must support one another,” said Baker.

Cranston resident Joe Conscious – who’s a poet, rapper and singer songwriter – concluded the flag raising ceremony with an original poem; afterward, Nevari Vargas, who’s a senior at Cranston East, raised the pride flag over the city.

“It really fills my heart seeing all of you participate in today’s evening and knowing that we want to make sure and will continue to make sure that the City of Cranston is welcoming of everyone despite how anyone identifies themselves in our community,” Vargas said.