It was a day for love, inclusion and gloriously bright colors on Saturday, June 1 as the Wareham community gathered together at Bay View Park in Onset to celebrate Pride Month. 

Organizers raised a rainbow flag over the Onset Bay Center, attendees perused the wares of vendors set up along the park’s paths, and all enjoyed the music of the band The Femmes, who kicked off their set with Lady Gaga’s LGTBQ anthem “Born this Way.”

Attendees at the event emphasized the inclusivity which pride entails. 

One vendor, Amber, said it was “destiny” which led her to the event. She had met someone at a different pride market the previous weekend and was able to take his spot in Onset when he couldn’t make it. 

“Pride means love. Pride means all inclusive,” said Amber. “Pride means we accept everyone for who they are.”

One attendee, Rorrie, said he wanted to come out and show his support. He attended the event with his parents, Laurie and George. 

Pride is “just a reminder that we all belong,” he said. 

Chioma, another of the event’s vendors, had a booth set up with crystals, wire-wrapped jewelry, bracelets and more. She makes everything by hand, she said — “I just love making stuff.”

Pride is “just about being a supportive community to the people,” she said. 

“Thank you for being such a loving, supportive community,” said Onset Bay Association Executive Director Kat Jones. Jones said she was the first openly queer executive director of the Association. 

Select Board member Jared Chadwick presented a proclamation from the Board and gave opening remarks at the ceremonies. 

Chadwick said he grew up with “numerous friends from the LGBTQ community,” and that he has been “enthusiastic” about organizing Pride celebrations in Wareham. 

He expressed concern about “the critical state of our mental health system, and the alarming rise in youth suicide rates, particularly within [the] LGBTQ+ community.”

While serving as a paramedic, Chadwick has seen a post-Covid increase in youth suicide attempts and hospitalizations, he said. “While asking patients about their sexual orientation in the back of an ambulance is not commonplace, the broader statistics are clear and troubling,” and show a higher risk of suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth. 

Having thus underscored the importance of inclusion, Chadwick and Jones raised the flag over the Onset Bay Center on its flagpole. Of note, Chadwick said: while the pride flag sits higher than the United States flag on that flagpole, the flagpole’s design, with the United States flag jutting out at an angle, means the United States flag is in the place of most honor on the pole.