Providence kicks-off Pride despite minor interruption

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The City of Providence kicked-off its Pride celebrations on June 7 despite a minor interruption at the ceremony.

“I am here in support of our community and my community,” resident Emerson Brito said. “I live in a city that supports gay people and all kinds of lifestyle and ways of being.”

The festivities scheduled for the weekend of June 15 include an illuminated nighttime parade and block parties.

Mayor Brett Smiley said that Pride hits close to home for him.

“I remember I said at the podium that my first pride was in 2000 and my husband’s first pride was in 1985,” the mayor said. “Everyone has their moment of their first pride. The need for it, the need for people to be able to get ready to speak out about who they are and show that they are proud of who they are and who they love, it has value.”

The brief disturbance while the mayor spoke was from an angry resident claiming the mayor wouldn’t respond to his messages…

Smiley said the reason some people are upset is because the city made a minor change to the festivities.

“This year we made a small change to the policy whereby outdoor music at the block parties have to turn off at 1 a.m. instead of 2 a.m., the parties will still go until 2am,” he said.