Boston Pride Lights

Keeping the tradition alive, even if not in the park together, we’ll stream the annual lighting of Blackstone Park. As a twist, we’ll light up in Pink Lights the water fountains in BOTH Blackstone and Franklin Sq. Parks. This is done to commemorate all those we’ve lost too soon to AIDS.

The 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. Pride Lights is a celebration of the community’s strength and resilience, rooted in collective resistance, and a recognition of those whom we have lost through the years to HIV/AIDS.

A signature tradition of Boston Pride Week, Pride Lights has new home in the South End at the Blackstone Square Park. Pride Lights features performances, music and as its name implies the illumination of the park. The 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 our community today. This event is a collaboration of the City of Boston and Boston Pride.

This year the event will be hosted by long time supporter of Pride Lights, drag legend Verna Turbulence, with Performances by Queens With a Mission and LGBTQI all-male dance Crew, Vocal Opposition Boston’s very own Protest Choir, Raising their voices for the People. We will also have many HIV/AIDS resource tables.

This event is not sponsored by NAGLY.