Boston Pride Pride Lights 2020 [06/09/20]

Honoring Those We Lost to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Stream the event live at:

https://facebook.com/bostonpride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2Poh2o6Kk

Keeping the tradition alive, even if not in the park together, Boston Pride will stream a virtual Pride Lights ceremony for the annual lighting of Blackstone and Franklin Square Parks on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 6:00pm on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Boston Pride will illuminate the parks with pink lights to commemorate all those lost to HIV/AIDS. All of Boston Pride’s 2020 events are now virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HIV/AIDS Crisis of the 1980s and the early 90s is a defining event in the history of the LGBTQ community. In the face of wide-spread devastation, confusion, and fear, queer people banded together in solidarity to care for the sick and to demand the attention and action of the Government.

A signature event of Boston Pride Week, Pride Lights is hosted by Verna Turbulence and features virtual performances by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, and singer Nicole Talbot and remarks by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and other dignitaries. The virtual park lighting ceremony is meant to commemorate departed friends, family and coworkers and to increase awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is still affecting the community today.

Pride Lights is a collaboration of the City of Boston, Boston Pride and the Blackstone / Franklin Square Neighborhood Association.

Performances by:

Nicole Talbot

Nicole Talbot is a singer and musical theater actress with Broadway aspirations. She is a rising freshman at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater.

Nicole found her voice and passion on stage, performing in more than 35 productions since age 5, including Les Misérables, Into the Woods and A Year with Frog and Toad. She recently appeared as Martha Cratchit in North Shore Music Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol. She is a proud Actor’s Equity Membership Candidate (EMC). Nicole is a National Anthem singer for the Boston Bruins and performed the anthem as part of NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign at TD Garden for 19,000 fans and millions of viewers on NESN.

Nicole is a passionate advocate for transgender youth and played a major role in passing and protecting anti-discrimination legislation in Massachusetts. She is a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Youth Ambassador and has been featured in documentaries produced by HRC, Associated Press, NowThis and .them. Nicole has conducted countless interviews for major national media outlets including the New York Times, NBC News, Teen Vogue, Boston Herald and Megyn Kelly Today. She is also a founding Champion of the GenderCool Project, a national campaign that is changing the narrative about transgender youth. Nicole was also featured in episode 10 of “I Am Jazz,” Season 5. In 2020, she was named the first recipient of the Trans Club of New England’s Trans Community Visionary Award.

Assigned male at birth, Nicole transitioned to living authentically as female in 2015 with the support of her mother, other family members, friends, and her communities. She shares her story and lends her voice, time and talent to support other transgender youth on their journey to living authentically.

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 200-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television and internet broadcasts. CBS-WBZ named the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus one of the “top 5” choruses in the city of Boston. The Boston Business Journal in 2018 and 2019 named BGMC one of the top 10 performing arts organizations in the city. BGMC is a Cultural Ambassador — being the first LGBTQ+ chorus to perform in Poland in 2005, the Middle East in 2015 and in South Africa in June 2018.

Boston Pride Pride Lights 2020

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Boston Pride Pride Lights 2020

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