It's Not Too Late to Show Your Pride!!

Franklin County Pride marches through downtown on Saturday, June 15th, and it's NEVER too late to show your pride and support. If you're in need of a flag - email Hannah and she'll get one to you; Need some joy - give your front windows some colorful merchandise or paint a rainbow; Need some inspiration - check out Federal Street Books, Greenfield Records, Catalpa Coffee, Imaginary Bookshop, Second Congregational Church, Hawks and Reed and more. Join the party and spread some LOVE!

Learn more about the the official Pride happenings HERE,

or head to VisitGreenfieldMA.com and find events all over town.

It's a short one this month - due to there just being so much to DO! In favor of our faithful readers flying through this Newsletter and just getting out there to hit up all the Block Parties, Anniversary Bashes, Pride Celebrations, and more, I'll just say this:

I was pretty shocked to open my Recorder a couple weeks ago and read a My Turn that was full of ignorant misinformation about LGBTQ+ people. And printed, no less, on the same day that Franklin County's Y was lovingly hosting Franklin County Pride's first-ever Queer Prom - where queer, questioning, and allied youth from all over our County could come together and dance, celebrate, and forget (hopefully) for one moment, that there are people in our community who cannot handle their existence.

The My Turn writer's initial issue was that someone had physically walked up to their residential mailbox and put am unstamped envelope in it, containing a pride flag. Now, as someone who is a Marketing Professional, I get it. To be honest, I am not a big fan of people putting things in my mailbox either. Unless they're cookies from my neighbor across the street, her kids live far away and I'm here to do my part! There are lots of ways to market your cause, and perhaps going door to door is a more invasive one.

HOWEVER. As Pride Month kicks off, it is crucial to remember that Greenfield was recently honored at the State Level, through one of our beloved business owners, Amy McMahan, for our inclusivity. We were held up as an example before the whole state of a place where people are free to be themselves, to be safe, to be happy, and to be successful. The GBA stands with every business, organization, corporation, sole-proprietorship, entrepreneur, and on and on, that calls Greenfield home; accepting that while we may all have differences, we have a right to exist and to live and to work in this community.

Happy Pride to all, have a safe, fun month, and SHOP LOCAL!

Thanks for reading!

Hannah C. Rechtschaffen, Director