PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It was a monumental decision by the Supreme Court in 2015 that allowed for same-sex marriages throughout the country. But, it also made Ed Sedarbaum feel lonely.

 

Sedarbaum had lived in New York City for years and was very involved with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community (LGBTQ) there. He was imagining pride month there and how much all of his New York City friends would be celebrating.

 

"I didn't have a gay community to celebrate with," Sedarbaum said. 

 

On Saturday, the founder of Rainbow Seniors looked out over a First Street Common filled with more than a hundred celebrating the county's first pride rally.

 

"You are now my community," he said, and advocate for others to continue building the LGBTQ community. "Do anything that you like to do and share it with your LGBTQ sisters and brothers and then you'll have a community."

 

The first Berkshire pride festival and parade featured speakers, entertainment, and a resource fair. It was the first of what organizers hope will be an annual event. Organizer Kenneth Mercure said living in the rural Berkshires can be isolating for a lot of people and he hopes the pride rally brings people together, forming a stronger LGBTQ community. 

 

"Ever since I came out at age 14, it has been my dream to see a united front and I am seeing it today," Mercure said.

 

The theme was "building community." City Council President Peter Marchetti, who is also gay, particularly liked the community theme. For him, the rally was about "demanding respect of who we are and what we do in the community." He said all anybody wants is respect. 

 

Judy Naracii, of Families with Pride, told the story of a gay man who was worried about telling his parents. He hatched a plot with his sister in which she would tell them, and he'd  drive around the block. If the parents were OK with it, she'd then turn the outside light on so he'd know if he should come in. After she revealed it to the parents, the family together went around the house and turned every single light on. That's similar to what the pride rally was for her, a loving and welcoming place.

 

But she feels there is still more work to be done to ensure that every school, bathroom, workplace, and faith communities are loving, supportive, and welcoming to everybody. 

 

Mayor Linda Tyer said for years people have been told to look past each other's differences, but she rejects that notion. 

 

"I want to look at your differences and I want to embrace the beauty of it," Tyer said. 

 

NAACP President Dennis Powell said he understands the plight of the gay community. Being a black man, he knows what it is like to not be accepted by others. He encouraged others to teach love, because right now more and more people in the world are choosing to teach hate.

 

"You have a God-given right to be who you are and no one should tell you any different," he said. 

 

The Common was filled with people for the rally, which came as a welcomed surprise for Jennifer Wahr, from the Elizabeth Freeman Center. She was only expecting a few dozen people early in the organizing process. She, too, talked about how the event helps build a community that feels oftentimes scattered. She remembers one lesbian woman telling her that she had no other gay or lesbian friends. Wahr looked over the common and saw that there are a lot more LGBTQ people in the community than one might think.

 

"We're here. We are here. We exist in the Berkshires," she said.

 

Also speaking at the event was Amanda Beckwith from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Live Out Loud Conference, Jahaira De Alto, Caz Polidoro from the Live Out Loud Youth Project and the Rev. Samuel Smith.

 

Smith gave credit to advocates that came before him that helped make his life better. As a gay boy, scared to come out, living in Texas he never would have imagined he'd be able to marry and man and become a reverend. He urged others to take up the fight to make future lives even better.

 

"Find your community and if you can't find your community, make it," he said.

 

Following the speakers, a community there was a community parade on the walking paths of the common, ending with signing and dancing in front of the stage. The day featured comedians, musicians, and performances.