Local residents festooned with brightly colored balloons march in the 2019 Nashua Pride Parade. (Telegraph file photo)

NASHUA – Get out your rainbow gear – June is Pride Month and to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA community, the city of Nashua has decided to hold a virtual Pride event on June 26 on the Nashua Pride Festival Facebook page at 3 p.m.

With the nature of Pride being a huge live and colorful event, many are disappointed but understanding in the city’s decision to hold a virtual event in lieu of a parade in June. However, a Main Street parade will take place in October, Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess said.

“The two Pride parades that we’ve had were very successful and positive events for the city,” he said. “Last year we had to go virtual. But there year there will be two events. Given the COVID situation and given the Pride parade is always in June, the committee for Pride has decided to have a virtual celebration in June but hold a live Pride parade in October.”

The Nashua Pride Festival Facebook page will feature interviews with members of the local LGBTQIA community as they share personal stories and express in their own words what Pride Month means to them.

Memories from previous Nashua Pride events will be shared in between interviews, in the form of photos and videos and guest Mayor Donchess will share a special message and read a Pride Month proclamation.

“We thought for safety-sake, we should defer the parade until the fall when we thought that more people would be vaccinated and we’d have more participation,” he said. “That seems to be a good compromise because the live event itself is far, far better.”

The parade is tentatively planned for the first or second Saturday in October.

In addition to airing on the Nashua Pride Festival Facebook page (Facebook.com/NashuaPrideFestival), the virtual program will also air on local cable access channels.

As the mayor of Nashua, Donchess feels the Pride event exemplifies the effort and support by the city to welcome all people in the LGBTQIA community.

“I think we have the biggest Pride celebration in the New Hampshire,” he said. “We’re trying to make it clear and obvious that we value all people and welcome them here. We’re a very pro-LGBTQIA community.”

Donchess said he’s proud that Nashua is a city that is diverse and accepting.

“People are very comfortable here and that’s what we want,” he said. “I think the Pride Parade helps because it’s a great time and the people who do it really enjoy it. It’s a very positive event.”

Beyond having a good time and marching on Main Street, Donchess said that Pride represents more than just a parade.

“We want to continue to show that this is an inclusive city and this is just one of many ways to do that,” he said. q

Pride Merchandise is on sale now. Visit the online shop, mintprintworks.printavo.com/merch/pride2021. Yard signs will be available for pickup at a table in front of City Hall, from 2-5 p.m. every Saturday in June.