Resilient Crowd Takes to Back Bay, Jamaica Plain for Pride Block Parties

By: Joe Lipovich and Alex Newman

BOSTON, MA—Block parties celebrating Boston's LGBT community were held this afternoon as scheduled in Back Bay and Jamaica Plain, as the nation mourns those killed in a mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday morning.

At least 50 people were killed Sunday and 53 more hospitalized after a gunman opened fire in an Orlando nightclub in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The shooting took place at Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Lounge, a popular gay bar, where about 350 people were partying.

• PHOTO GALLERY: Boston Pride Block Parties
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"We woke up pretty horrified at the news," Boston Pride president Sylvain Bruni told Patch. "Never pleasant to wake up to news of a terrorist attack that left 50 people dead. And especially because the kind of venue in which this occurred. So whether or not the LGBT community was targeted specifically, it has a very deep impact on us and all of our team because we are right in the middle of pride here."

Heightened security measures were taken at the block parties.

"Typically we have a security team of volunteers here just watching the party and roaming," Bruni told Patch at the event. "We are adding training also for every other member of the team today, including our bartenders, the volunteers who are at the door, etc, to make sure that everybody knows that if they see something they say something to us."

Despite the tragedy, a sense of positivity prevailed. Many felt it was important to band together in spite of the circumstances.

"We're definitely thinking about Orlando and the people there," said Boston Pride volunteer Tina Rosado at the Back Bay event. "But we're going to celebrate in honor of them. We won't bow down to terrorism in any form, and we're going to keep going."

Others pointed to the importance of leaning on community.

“I think pride in general is really a celebration, right?," said Grady Ward, who attended the Jamaica Plain event. "So having yesterday as a celebration and today kind of marred by trauma is really saddening. But it also reminds me that the pieces that I really love about pride are the community and being in a community with other people in LGBTQ. It’s very meaningful for me to be around people and be engaging with them and celebrating that, especially at a really dark time.”

However, some in attendance felt the weight of the events which took place in Orlando, and questioned how best to honor those who had passed.

"I think we have been very somber today," said Back Bay attendee Red Raphaelson."I know that we went to brunch and we went home and we were very sad and it has been in our hearts and our minds and it has been something that we have talked about. I mean, honestly, we spent the morning looking up guidelines on donating blood to see if that is how we wanted to celebrate Pride today."

Jamaica Plain attendee Jeff Butts: “I’m really surprised, honestly, that they’re not focusing on it as much as I’d like. I think this is a huge tragedy, you know, one of the worst mass casualty events in our country and I’m a little surprised.”

John Welch chose to make a political statement, calling for stricter gun laws in order to prevent incidents like the one which had occurred in Orlando just a few hours beforehand. He donned a t-shirt that had the words "sensible gun laws can save lives," printed on it.

"I’m pissed off about gun laws in this country," Welch told Patch at the Back Bay block party. "We keep talking about praying for victims and their families but it’s not enough you have to do something. Gay pride is a time to celebrate our history and all the people who have come before us to let us have these freedoms. Last night’s attack was not just an attack on gay people but on freedom in the U.S. and I feel like the more guns out there the less free we are."

While emotions ranged from many in attendance, an overwhelming sense of resiliency remained present from all in attendance.

"We are going to do the same as we always do to any horrific tragedy, we are going to throw love at it," Back Bay attendee Megan Grondin said. "Just throw so much love and so much support because these events happen out of hatred and that has nothing to do with who we are."

• Photo Credit: Joe Lipovich, Patch Staff