Stanford holds first Gay Pride event June 4

STANFORD — When the notice came around proclaiming a celebration in Stanford in honor of Gay Pride, it was a first. It promises to be an exciting day.

The celebration of Pride Month each June began slowly, but it’s catching on quickly. In larger cities, it has been feted for many years, but in smaller towns and villages, the movement has progressed more slowly.

However, in this area alone, Millbrook Pride is already celebrating its sixth Pride event this year. And now neighboring Pine Plains is excited to be celebrating its first Pride Month event this year as well.

Since the 1970s, there have been events commemorating the rights of the LGBTQ community, following the now-famous Stonewall Inn riot in New York City and the Compton Cafeteria Riots in San Francisco.

When rioters resisted, one rallying cry was that of “Gay Pride.” So Pride Month began as a protest against unfair authority and all other injustices of the time. As more and more people joined the movement, it spread across the U.S. and eventually, throughout the world.

An international organization known as InterPride was formed as a means to organize many of the protests and to keep track of events in a number of large cities.

Today the celebrations and protests are mainstream, with some corporate sponsors using their company logos on rainbow-hued merchandise; these days many politicians join in Pride Day activities.

Pride flags are proudly displayed on homes and by businesses in the region. Communities gather together to celebrate the fact that people today may now enjoy the many personal freedoms those fought for so long and for so hard for so many years.   

The event in Stanfordville is being hosted by Stanford Pride and is scheduled for Saturday, June 4. It promises to be a fun and freeing day for all who attend.

It is open to the public, beginning at 12:30 p.m., with a reading of a proclamation at the Stanford Town Hall at 26 Town Hall Road. The movement has come a long way from the Stonewall Inn Riot on June 28, 1960, 53 years ago.

Following the reading of the proclamation, a caravan of cars, decorated for the occasion with rainbow flags, will proceed to Bangallworks at 97 Hunns Lake Road, where participants will be able to enjoy some entertaining live music and share some good food, BBQ and fashion with friends, both old and new. The day will run from 1 to 4 p.m.

Bangallworks is spacious, with a huge green lawn, so the celebration may be enjoyed indoors or outside.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beginning of summer, to meet new people and to learn more about the LGBTQ community.

The event is sponsored in part by Stanford, which has aptly coined the name for itself as “a Caring Community.”

For more information, go to www.stanfordpride.com or e-mail  stanfordprides@gmail.com.

Latest News

Dutchess County releases latest round of funding in youth wellness grant program

POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the newest grants from the County’s 2024 Youth Wellness Supports Microgrants program, totaling over $45,000.

These grants support important programs that reinforce positive behaviors in children and keep them from harmful activities. The money will be going to four local organizations that already build up young members of the community will avert them from developing substance abuse or other destructive habits.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia supports survey of small Wassaic village park

Town Hall in Amenia on Route 22.

Archive photo

AMENIA — Engaging in a variety of discussion topics, the Amenia Town Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, agreed to hire a surveyor to define the boundaries of the small park in the center of Wassaic village.

The vote was unanimous to have surveyor Kirk Horton conduct the survey of the spot known locally as “Wassaic Pocket Park”” for a fee of $900.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dinner and study sessions courtesy of Lyall’s Community Church

MILLBROOK — Millbrook student Lindsay McMorris is working alongside Lyall’s Community Church to serve free dinner and study sessions.

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 7, Lyall Church started hosting study sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each week. The program aims to help Millbrook students from Kindergarten through twelfth grade with homework or studying while providing dinner at the same time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook hearing airs House of Stefan request to add small generator

MILLBROOK — A brief public hearing on a request by the owners of a new restaurant under construction along Franklin Avenue was held at the regular meeting of the Planning Board on Monday, Nov. 18.

The House of Stefan is nearing completion of its construction phase and is due to open around January. Essential to the business is a small generator that has been added to the site plan drawings, owner John Stefanopoulos noted for the board.

Keep ReadingShow less