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Pride Flag Raised For Second Time at Beacon City Hall

Jun 16, 2021

City of Beacon Mayor, Lee Kyriocou, speaks at Monday evening’s Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, where he officially proclaimed June Pride Month as well as was involved in the flag raising, which marked the second year a Pride Flag is being displayed outside of Beacon’s City Hall.

By Jennifer L. Warren

BEACON – Air Rhodes can clearly recall being a teenager and virtually no one being able to say they were gay, a stifling and harmful reality to so many who kept their true identities hidden, often ashamed of their real, authentic selves.

However, last Monday evening as the brightly colored Pride Flag was officially raised outside of Beacon’s City Hall, Rhodes stood tall, proudly observed the potent subtleties of the moment, took in some deep breaths and radiated with joy.

The Pride Flag is officially raised for the second year at Beacon’s City Hall Monday night. The short program, which included the official proclamation of June as Pride Month by City of Beacon Mayor, Lee Kyriocou, had a good turnout and included several speakers, offering remarks on the special nature of the day and month.

“There have been so many changes just within my lifetime,” explained Beacon City Council member Rhodes, who is the first LGBQ+ Councilperson in City. “To now be celebrated in this way and be able to truly be ourselves is just so fantastic; we are so lucky to be here in Beacon, whereas in other parts of the country people feel less safe.”

Last week’s Pride Month Flag Raising Ceremony marked its second year in Beacon. The short ceremony was well-attended, as Mayor Lee Kyriocou proudly proclaimed the federally recognized commemorative June Pride Month. With roots tracing back to 2000, June Pride was initially dubbed “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” by President Bill Clinton. It later took on more inclusivity, when President Barrack Obama officially declared it “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Month in 2011.” Now celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, the month of June has maintained its same underlying message: The acceptance of all people and their rights to love.

“I’m so glad Beacon sides on the side of love, and I really hope that continues to be the case,” said Rhodes as she addressed the crowd prior to the flag’s raising. “It’s what we need to strive to uphold, heading towards love more and more little by little.”

Also offering remarks at the Ceremony was Joe Waring from The Human Rights Commission of Beacon. Surveying the just hoisted Pride Flag, Waring wanted those in attendance to know something.

David Rosenberger, on left and his partner Gary Perez stand in front of the Pride Flag outside of Beacon’s City Hall. The symbolic flag will be displayed throughout the month of June, Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is not about a flag but about all of you,” said Waring. “You are all very special and live in a very, very special place.” He added, “The City of Beacon has a long history of welcoming the LGBTQ+ society, and the flag is just a symbol- all about the people here.”

Some of those many people referred to by Waring included partners David Rosenberger, a five year Beacon resident and Gary Perez, who has resided in Beacon for the past 20 years. Similar to Rhodes’ emotional response to the flag’s raising, Rosenberger too was deeply touched by the moment.

“Today made me reflect on how much fear people have growing up, and today really shows how our communities (not just the big cities but the smaller ones like Beacon) are changing and recognizing as well as accepting the gay community,” said Rosenberger. It makes me feel more a part of the community as well as much more, when I look at the flag.”