POUGHKEEPSIE – Gay Pride took center stage in the City of Poughkeepsie on Sunday. A brief ceremony at city hall involving Mayor Rob Rolison, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, and State Senator Sue Serino, representatives of the Dutchess County Pride Center were given both city and county proclamations declaring June as Pride Month in both Poughkeepsie and throughout Dutchess County.
Rolison said the proclamation is an affirmation of what is practiced every day in city government; “pride and respect for one another.”
Both Rolison and Molinaro joined the county’s Director of Veterans Services, Marc Coviello, to raise the rainbow flag on the city hall flag pole out of respect for the LGBTQ community.
Molinaro noted that, over the years, including the 50 years following the Stonewall riot, many people have been bullied, tortured, and even killed for their sexual orientation and there is no place for that behavior in Dutchess County.
The county executive gave a brief nod to history noting that just down the street at the county courthouse, Alexander Hamilton lobbied for the Constitution, which granted certain unalienable rights to individuals. Molinaro called the Pride movement an extension of an individual’s right to the “pursuit of happiness.”
After the proclamations, the focus shifted to Market Street in front of the courthouse and county office building where parade marchers representing several LGBTQ organizations as well candidates vying for public office were gathering for the start of the parade.
Joseph Ruggiero, Democratic candidate for Dutchess County executive called the parade “a celebration of the expansion of the rights that were originally ratified in the courthouse in Poughkeepsie.”
Co-Grand Marshall of the parade, Michael Dupree, was visibly excited about the parade and how the LGBTQ community is much more accepted than when he “came out” to his parents in the 1970s. “This parade shows that we’re members of the community.”
Matthew McNamara, an openly gay member of the common council, rejoiced in the fact that his late husband, Tracy Hermann, was the original author of the common council legislation calling for a “Pride Month” in Poughkeepsie. Of the parade, McNamara said “It’s celebrating the diversity and every individual in the City of Poughkeepsie and the contribution every individual gives – including the LGBTQ community.”
Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, whose district office is located a few hundred feet from the starting point of the parade called the parade a celebration of diversity and inclusion.”
Ryan Doughty, a Poughkeepsie resident born and raised, had gathered at the intersection of Main and North Bridge Streets with friends to watch the parade. “As a gay man, I am thrilled to finally have this parade in Poughkeepsie. This is fantastic.”
The parade stepped off and marched down Main Street to Waryas Park where a substantial number of vendors and service providers of all types had assembled in a festival-type setting. When the marchers and parade-goers arrived, the attendance at the park swelled to over 2,000 people.
The overflow crowd sought food and beverages at local restaurants including the River Station, Amici’s, and Mahoney’s.
At the park’s pavilion, Mayor Rolison vowed to help the Dutchess County Pride Center in finding a permanent office space which he hopes to have located in downtown Poughkeepsie. Rolison’s words were well received by Lori Scolaro, the co-chair of the PK Pride Parade planning committee.
“It’s a little surreal, some of these things that have happened like just the support of the county leadership. We raised the flag here today at city hall with rainbows. To see that trickling down. If Albany, Capitol building can fly one, why not here in Poughkeepsie, New York,” Scolaro said.
Scolaro had said earlier in the day that the Dutchess County Pride Center has been working with both the LGBTQ community and the community-at-large to help people get a better understanding of the issues facing the LGBTQ community.
In addition to Rolison’s remarks at the park, a representative of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office presented the Pride Center with a signed copy of the governor’s proclamation declaring June 2019 as “LGBTQ Pride Month.” The ceremonial document said in part “In New York, Worldwide Pride 2019 is a celebration shared by all people who are of one family, one heart, and one mind – who know that our diversity is our greatest strength and enriches us in countless ways.”
Former Poughkeepsie council member Mike Young, who is seeking the “at-large” council seat this year was at Waryas Park and recalled when he and his fellow council members had passed the legislation in 2016 to declare June “Pride Month” in perpetuity. “The PK Pride Parade is a testament to just how much the City of Poughkeepsie is the center of this region.”
