Celebrate Diversity
Noho Pride is an entirely volunteer-managed, 501(c)3 non-profit organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and all other people who support the struggle for equality in Western New England. Held in May for over 30 years, Noho Pride is the official producer of the Northampton LGBT Parade and Pride Event in Northampton, MA.
With sponsorships, donations and fundraisers, we are able to offer this extraordinary day of LGBT Pride totally FREE to everyone. In addition to the LGBT Pride event, we offer LGBT Resources , LGBT Scholarship and fundraising events that provide a safe space and bring unity among communities.
Noho Pride is a member of the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators (Interpride), a non-profit organization that provides support to Pride events around the globe.
Northampton, Massachusetts is a community that actively cares about justice and humanity. The ever-present political and spiritual connectedness for human rights draws people together both near and far across gender, sexuality, age, ability, class, race and diversity broadly. This strong commitment to social justice allows Northampton to be an open, rather than closeted, home for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
In 1982 Northampton held its first liberation Pride march despite the overwhelmingly homophobic and discriminatory realities facing LGBT people nation-wide. Our Pride event, annually held in May, now draws thousands of people from New England and beyond. Our Pride parade and rally has evolved from people marching with bags on their heads into a day that brings diverse communities together to celebrate the freedom of being who we are. Through the long-lasting efforts of local community members and the leadership of Noho Pride, in 2011 we celebrated our 30th anniversary of LGBT pride and fight for equality. With sponsorships, donations and fundraisers, we are able to offer this extraordinary day of LGBT Pride totally FREE to everyone.
In addition to our annual Pride parade and rally, we proudly work with and support area businesses such as WGBY Public television, Out For Reel’s LGBT Film series, Diva’s Nightclub, the Springfield Falcons Hockey Team, and we encourage entertainers to perform in our great area venues to help bring unity among LGBT and allied communities.
Our online and social media presence is very important to us. Here on our website we offer an extensive LGBT Resource online space. In addition to our website, we have a Facebook page which enables us to reach out to people all over the world. You can follow us on Twitter and we offer a monthly enewsletter for you to stay informed.
As an organization, for Noho Pride, the only constant is change! Here are some of the exciting things that are in Noho Pride's future: a Family Pride Day, 5K run\walk. Our first LGBT Scholarship for academia will be awarded in 2012. In addition to the academia scholarship, future scholarships, grants, awards are being being developed.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are intricately woven with all aspects of Northampton. We are mothers/fathers, daughters/sons, brothers/sisters, friends, business owners, employees, democrats/republicans, artists, writers, scholars. We are a big part of Northampton and we welcome you to our ever-growing diverse communities.
Read more about us and our communities in A Generation of Change our 30th Anniversary LGBT History publication below.
This video is included in a looping program being shown on the “About Northampton” channel in all the Northampton, MA area hotels.
It can also be viewed on the www.VisitNoho.com website.
Video produced by Dave Waymouth, Ellipsis Video, 860.841.7261, 413.570.0720, www.ellipsisvideo.com.
Written and narrated by Bear White, Cid White and Larissa Hopkins.
Produced by Noho Pride, Inc.
Researched and written by J. Mary (JM) Sorrell
Director, SAGE Western Massachusetts
Wedding Officiant for 500 Couples
Order a hardcopy of A Generation of Change
30 Years of LGBT Pride for $4.00 each
($2 booklet, $2 shipping added at checkout)
Stay informed about all our events and activities by joining our monthly enewsletter mailing list.
Current Board of Directors:
Bear White, Co-chair, Director - bwhite@nohopride.org
Cid White, Co-chair, Treasurer - cwhite@nohopride.org
Cat Dvar, Secretary, ASL Interpreter - cdvar@nohopride.org
Larissa Hopkins, Social Justice Liaison - lhopkins@nohopride.org
