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Ridgefield Pride in the Park: a beautiful, inclusive, joyous and affirming event!
Ridgefield CT Pride's 6th annual Pride in the Park celebration took place this past Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Ballard Park.
Ridgefield CT Pride’s 6th annual Pride in the Park celebration took place this past Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Ballard Park in Ridgefield CT. Despite the unseasonably cool weather, warmth and love could be felt all around at this relaxed, family-friendly Pride celebration.
"Ridgefield Pride was an absolutely beautiful, inclusive, and joyous event. Seeing so many people come out to celebrate, support, and connect was lovely,” commented first-time attendee Lucy Cigarettes, adding, “Visibility, positivity, and community are all so vital, and I am tremendously grateful for all of the people who labored to make this possible and everyone who attended.”
That sentiment was echoed again and again by this year’s attendees. From our youth to our seniors, from Ridgefielders to visitors from across the state and beyond, support, caring and a feeling of inclusivity and belonging was felt by all. “I just want to thank the Ridgefield community for being so inclusive towards LGBTQ+ adolescents,” noted RHS student Aaron Goncalves. Former RHS student and college grad Kai Harris remarked, “It is so meaningful that my hometown supports Pride and diversity, and I appreciate everyone who has put in so much work to make this happen.” Parents Zach Hudson and Tom Cunningham gathered by the gazebo with their children Will, Cian and Zoe in anticipation of the parade. “Thanks to Ridgefield Pride for supporting real love, real freedom, real community and real family values,” said Cunningham. Ridgefield native Vycki Higley, sporting a colorful Free Mom Hugs dinosaur Pride t-shirt, said, “I raised my daughters and granddaughter here and am glad that the town is involved in equality.”
At 1pm event goers gathered around the gazebo to hear remarks by Emmett Joyce, founder of the ERMS GSA, event organizers Alisa Trachtenberg and Mary Joyce and elected officials: State Representatives Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Savet Constantine, State Senators Ceci Maher and Julie Kushner as well as Selectpersons Barbara Manners and Sean Connelly. Berger-Girvalo’s speech was passionate and powerful. She gave concrete suggestions on how to respond when people present misinformation. “This is the time for us to come together, to show our strength in unity,” said Ridgefield CT Pride founder and Chairperson Alisa Trachtenberg. “ Today, we are all here together to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community. Visibility not only matters, it saves lives.”
Tanya Hughes, Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, was also in attendance with her grandchild and with fellow commissioner Alex Harris. “We just want to make sure that everyone knows that we are still open and actively taking complaints and enforcing our State and federal anti discrimination laws,” said [who?]. “We are stronger together and must band together in solidarity to fight the misinformation and destructive forces that are coming out of the federal government,” said Hughes.
Ramon Jacobs-Shaw, who attended with his husband and two children, said “It has been nice to be amongst community where our family is seen and heard.” “We moved to Ridgefield because it seemed like such a family friendly town and having such a great Pride event further proves it,” said Alissa Recck. Husband Marcus added, “Having a mom and a stepmom, we really value inclusivity and Ridgefield really exemplifies that.”
The Celebration Continues All Month Long
The Pride Month celebration lasts all month. Show your Pride during Pride month and beyond by displaying a reusable Pride Lawn Sign. Ridgefield CT Pride will also be asking people to display their lawn signs for National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 7-13) and this October for LGBTQ+ History Month. Donations are always welcome to help cover the cost of the signs. If you missed out on the Planet Pizza Pride Promotion, fear not, there are several promotions which are ongoing throughout the month. Deborah Ann’s is again serving up its delicious and festive Pride ice cream during the entire month of June. Tasty PRIDE PROMOTIONS and treats offered throughout Ridgefield include rainbow bagel chips, and Pride baked goods all month from Queen B, Stacey’s Totally Baked and the Cake Box. Ridgefield Parks and Recreation and The Toy Chest are also running Pride promotions. All the info can be found at www.ridgefieldctpride.com.
Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project Celebration & Conversation - June 21st
To commemorate and celebrate the success of the Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project, the Ridgefield Historical Society and Ridgefield CT Pride invite you to the Ridgefield Oral History Project Celebration & Conversation. It will be a time to come together to celebrate and to share reflections, stories, and insights gathered throughout the project. Nationally renowned LGBTQIA+ historian Susan Ferentinos, PhD, will facilitate an informal roundtable with project participants. Refreshments will be served. This free program is open to the public and will take place 2-4pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Ridgefield Library, 472 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT. As seating is limited, registration is required.
The goals of the Oral History Project are to record, preserve, and share Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ stories, which are underrepresented in the Ridgefield Historical Society’s collection; to foster intergenerational conversation; and to increase civic pride and awareness.
Everyone knows someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ family
Pride is truly a celebration for everyone, because whether you realize it or not, if you yourself are not part of the Pride community, you most likely know someone who is. The most recent Gallup poll from February 20, 2025, found that there is a 9.3% increase in the number of “US adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual in 2024. This represents an increase of more than a percentage point versus the prior estimate, from 2023” with nearly 30% of Gen Z’s identifying as LGBTQ+ according to a PRRI survey from August to September 2023. Based on these statistics and local population data for Ridgefield that means that there are approximately 2,400 Ridgefielders who are part of the Pride community of which 800 are seniors! Who knew?!! At the Senior Expo, hundreds of attendees stopped by the Ridgefield CT Pride table to express their gratitude and to share that they either were part of the LGBTQ+ community or had a family member or friend or several who were.
Outreach, Education & Awareness
While this has been a very difficult year for the queer community and many are scared and angry with the incessant targeted attacks on human rights, the good news is that here in Ridgefield, the demand for support, services and education has seen an uptick. In fact, this has been an extremely active year for Ridgefield CT Pride with regard to outreach, education and raising awareness as we celebrate our LGBTQ+ community. “We must speak up for those who cannot and work to educate, to dispel myths and fallacies, to engage in personal conversations to help win hearts and minds,” says Alisa Trachtenberg, Ridgefield Pride CT founder. “Every little bit can help move the needle, slowly, steadily, as we have done here in Ridgefield. We know for a fact that LGBTQ youth who live in accepting communities report significantly lower rates of attempting suicide than those who do not. We must continue to come together for together we are stronger.”
Since last June, Ridgefield CT Pride had an important presence at a number of events including the Ridgefield Farmers Market, Ridgefield Senior Expo, the Ridgefield Newcomer’s Non-Profit Fair, Fall for Ridgefield and the Ridgefield Town Party in honor of the Playhouse’s 25th anniversary. From an educational perspective, Ridgefield CT Pride participated in Wilton Pride’s Ask Me Anything Teen Edition, spoke to the Commission on Aging, the Ridgefield OWLS (Older Wiser, Livelier Set), and the Lion’s Club. Pride also participated in several SOAR Together events which aim to fight loneliness and social isolation by fostering positive social connections. This November, Ridgefield Pride will be presenting a panel at the Commission on Aging’s Senior Voices at the Ridgefield Library.
Support Groups
Ridgefield CT Pride offers two monthly peer-led support groups which meet via zoom and have been running continuously since 2019. The Parent, Caregiver Support Group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month and is for parents, guardians, caregivers, friends, family and loved ones of LGBTQ+ individuals. Their LGBTQ+ Youth Support Group meets on the first Monday of the month on zoom. You must register to attend. You can register at ridgefieldctpride.com.
Monthly Social Gatherings
We run 2 monthly social groups, a Game Night & Potluck in partnership with St. Stephen’s and an LGBTQ+ Youth Group in partnership with Lighthouse/Kids in Crisis with the support of the Ridgefield Youth Commission and the Teen Barn. Game Night & Potluck is for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies and is an intergenerational gathering. It is held on the 4th Monday of the month (except for this September when it will be on the 3rd Monday due to the holiday). Location will be sent out to those who register. The LGBTQ+ Youth Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Teen Barn. This is a drop in event. The Teen Barn is the perfect environment to just hang out, chat, play games in an LGBTQ+ safe space. Dinner and refreshments are also provided thanks to a generous grant from the Ridgefield Thrift Shop.
Special Events & Programming
Ridgefield CT Pride offers a variety of special events and programming and is constantly adding new events as demand grows. Like Poetry? Join Ridgefield CT Pride and Poet Laureate Emerita on Monday, July 21st at 7pm for a Poetry in the Garden at the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center for Voices from Marginalized America: LGBTQ+ Voices. This special evening of Pride Poetry will feature Mark Doty - a National Book Award Winner. Some of the winners of the Pride Poetry Contest will also reading their poems. On August 9th from 1-4pm there is a Pride BBQ - family friendly and a great time to mix, mingle, play lawn games and meet new people. If you like art, then get excited because in September Ridgefield CT Pride will be partnering with Queen B for a Pride art creation project and exposition. Participants will be able to decorate a canvass or create their own art with the theme “What Pride Means to Me.” Select works will be displayed for LGBTQ+ history month. Check back at ridgefieldctpride.com for information on these events, the Pride Friendsgiving and more.
Ridgefield CT Pride is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was created in 2019 under the umbrella of the Friends of Ridgefield Community Programs. Ridgefield CT Pride offers both periodic and ongoing support to the community through a variety of initiatives.
Its mission is to foster a sense of belonging for our LGBTQ+ community, family and friends; to educate, promote awareness & understanding and increase visibility; to provide support for LGBTQ+ individuals, friends and family and to celebrate Ridgefield’s LGBTQ+ community.
If you are interested in finding out more about Ridgefield CT Pride, Its events, programs and resources, donating or volunteering, go to www.ridgefieldctpride.com.
