By Anjali Kishore
Congressman Himes, First Selectman Camillo, and community members gathered on Thursday, June 10th, to commemorate the raising of the Pride flag in front of Town Hall to celebrate Pride Month.
The crowd in front of Town Hall Thursday morning included high schoolers and grandparents; flip flops and suits; families crowded together and town employees who’d taken a quick break to witness the ceremony taking place right outside their office windows. The crowd had been brought together to celebrate the raising of the Pride flag in front of Town Hall, marking the beginning of Pride Month festivities in Greenwich. Former and current town officials mingled with the public; particularly notable was the attendance of Drew Marzullo, the town’s first openly gay Selectman.
Pride is a subject that hits home for Marzullo, who lives in Greenwich with his husband of over 20 years, Reynold, and their 11-year old son. He marveled at the progress that has been made in the past few decades, both in a personal sense, “in 1989, if someone came up to me and said, ‘Are you gay?’, I’d say ‘no’”; and as a community, “it’s a school day and a work day and we still have a pretty good crowd here — in 1989, this wouldn’t have been happening.”
Marzullo spearheaded the ceremony and celebration of Pride during his time as First Selectman, from 2009 to 2017. He has stressed that flying the Pride flag is as important now as it has ever been: “As proud as I am to live in Greenwich, Connecticut, and as proud as I am to raise an 11-year old in Greenwich, Connecticut…many, many thousands of gay youth don’t have a place to call home. There’s still over 50 countries where being gay is illegal. So, again, today’s events still do have a purpose. While we all may be celebrating in our own little way today, either publicly or privately, it’s still purposeful. It might be as purposeful today in 2021, even more so, than in 1989, when I graduated high school.”
Congressman Jim Himes, whom Marzullo introduced as “one of the most, if not the most instrumental person I know in terms of gay rights”, echoed the importance of continuing the push for LGBTQ equality in every sense of the word. Both civic leaders encouraged spectators to celebrate. Himes continued, “…The amazing progress that the LGBTQ community has made in this country, even just in my lifetime, it’s huge progress…it’s just a really happy story over the last generation or so.”
Besides town leaders, community members were also out expressing their Pride in full force. One of the things Marzullo mentioned was how important the location of the flag is: “To see the gay flag in 2021 flying on a street that is very visible, in front of Greenwich Town Hall, it does say something.” To Wells Noonan, a Greenwich-based artist who has helmed a county-wide Pride campaign (sponsored and supported by House of Fins, First Bank of Greenwich, Pet Pantry, and Miller Motorcars) with her ubiquitous #GreenwichHasPride signs (pictured above), visibility is everything: “it’s nice to be able to drive around in your car and to be able to see a sign that says ‘Greenwich has your back’, especially with the youth.” Noonan’s interest in helping LGBTQ youth isn’t just talk — the proceeds from her #GreenwichHasPride signs (the 100th of which was sold at this very event!), which cost $20 each, go directly to the Kids in Crisis’ Lighthouse Program at Christ Church. The Lighthouse Program holds weekly meetings for LGBTQ+ youth in Fairfield County and provides a safe space for queer youth to meet other people who might be having similar experiences and struggles, as well as hosting queer guest speakers and virtual events throughout the pandemic. Since she started this campaign at the end of May, Noonan’s signs have blown up, with her shop now including Stamford, Fairfield, and Weston Pride lawn signs. Those interested in purchasing an 18” x 24” lawn sign should contact Wells Noonan through Venmo (@wells-noonan) with their town name for more information.
As the flag was raised, all faces on the Town Hall lawn were looking upwards, sharing a sense of awe at how far we’ve come. The group erupted in cheers and applause once the flag made it up, in line with the Connecticut state flag and the stars and stripes. Applause devolved into joyful chatter as people started filtering back to their cars; trucks rumbled by Town Hall and the day moved on. But perhaps this is the point of Pride: the quiet, casual acceptance of the community, a subtle statement that signifies to members of the LGBTQ+ community that Greenwich cares.
