Arts Paper
As the editorially independent arm of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the Arts Paper seeks to celebrate, explore, and investigate the fine, visual, performing and culinary arts in and around New Haven.
Jehloni, La'Nece Onassis, and Xiomarie LaBeija. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Staff of the New Haven Pride Center. Very back row: Joseph DiMaggio and Val Ruby-Omen. Middle row: Erycka Ortiz, Ta'LannaMonique Miller, Jahnice Cajigas, Ala Ochumare, Aron Alber, Suyane Oliveira, and Azula. Bottom: Laura Boccadoro, Juancarlos Soto, and Patrick Dunn. Lucy Gellman Photos. Gilbert Baker's rainbow flag made its way slowly up the Green's flagpole, its stripes flapping against a smear of blue sky. At the mic, Rashawn Lee leaned in, his voice cutting through a thick humidity that had settled over the crowd. We are a family! Like a giant tree! Branching out toward the sky! he belted. As the words sailed over the grass, ears seemed to perk up across the space, hanging onto each word. As they watched the flag rise from below, attendees and New Haven Pride Center staff saw both the beginning of a celebration, and a moment that might save someone's life. That belief in queer visibility defined PRIDE New Haven's now-annual flag raising, held Monday afternoon on the New Haven Green. As roughly two dozen gathered for the event, it doubled as a kickoff to the week-long celebration, which features 25 events over eight days. They include keynote conversations, justice-focused panels, culinary tutorials and tastings, multiple drag and burlesque performances, a concert at the State House, and day long celebration on the New Haven Green. The festivities run through Sunday Sept. 18; read more about them here and get a full schedule here. Throughout, both speakers and NHPC staff have woven in reminders that PRIDE started as a riot, from panels on Black queer feminism, disability, fatphobia, and rainbow capitalism to performances of drag artists at the margins of their own form. For the first time ever this year, a "fringe fest" will be running parallel to PRIDE, with participants including Strange Ways, 80 Proof Kitchen & Bar, Artspace New Haven and the New Haven Free Public Library.
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