'I want us to be part of the community': Weymouth group gears up for Pride Month in June

WEYMOUTH – Annmarie Reardon launched the Weymouth Pride Project last year with the hopes of handing out 500 rainbow flags for Weymouth residents to fly during Pride Month in June.

She and a group of residents ended up raising enough money to give away 700 flags, provide a book about the Pride flag to libraries and give two scholarships to high school seniors.

“When you talk about making something visible, this is what you're talking about,” Reardon said. “Last year was really new, and we were pushing forward to find supporters and collaborators. This year is starting to bear fruit in terms of collaboration.”

The Weymouth Pride Project aims to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents and promote Weymouth as a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Reardon said the group raised more than $5,000, which allowed them to do more than simply provide flags.  

“We’re no longer having to look so hard to find people to collaborate with. They’re approaching us,” Reardon said.

For example, the group has been working with the Weymouth High School Human Rights Coalition and the Weymouth Black Student Union. They’re advocating for the high school to install a permanent rainbow crosswalk outside one of the entrances, as well as fly the Pride flag in June.

The group had a special Pride flag designed this year featuring a W for Weymouth.

South Shore Health joined the Weymouth Pride Project and will fly the Pride flag outside South Shore Hospital for the month of June.

Weymouth Pride Project and Whitman Pride are teaming up for a 2022 Pride Kickoff Event from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Barrel House Z. The family-friendly event will include food, music and entertainment.

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The group is also teaming up with Quigg Creations for the second annual Pride event in Weymouth. “Pride in the Park," a family-friendly event, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, June 20 – the observed Juneteenth holiday – in King Oak Hill Park.

The Weymouth Pride Project will participate in the celebrations happening in the town’s four villages this summer as part of Weymouth's 400th anniversary commemoration.

"I want us to be part of the community, and I feel like many segments of Weymouth are embracing us," Reardon said. "I feel really strongly that you can't make this happen without people being involved, and people are making it happen."