Guilford's First Pride Event Comes To Town In Late May

GUILFORD, CT – Having a son who identifies as part of the LBGTQ+ community, Sarah Celotto decided it was time for Guilford to have a Pride event to show the LGBTQ+ community how caring, accepting and loving the town of Guilford is.

Guilford Pride is scheduled for May 20 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the historical downtown green.

“This is the first Pride event in Guilford,” she said. “We hope to do it every year.”

Growing up in Guilford, Celotto said she knows how welcoming and accepting the town is towards all of its citizens.

“A couple of us got together, and we were talking about the LGBTQ community and how the country, a lot of states, there’s a lot of attack on them and laws being changed that will impact the LGBTQ+ community,” said Celotto. “We said that we are grateful where we live in Guilford and Connecticut.”

Coletto said she was thinking out loud about having a Pride event in Guilford because the town is an accepting place and a great place to grow up.

“There is no reason why we can’t show our love and support and have a big celebration,” she said. “The celebration is Obviously for the LGBTQ+ community, but as well as allies, bringing people together and having a good day.”

Celotto said she knows the LGBTQ+ community has felt a little bit alone in the past, and life’s been a little difficult for them at times.

“I knew my son wasn’t the only one that felt like that, but there was probably other youth who felt like that,” she said.

When Celotto talked to her son, she said he was excited, and now he is part of the planning committee helping her organize the event.

“When Guilford High School students got wind about it, they got excited, and a bunch of them are volunteering during the day,” she said.

At first, the Pride event was planned for the youth, but as Celotto and her team started planning further, it quickly grew to get the entire community involved.

“We have about 35 vendors, food trucks, a parade at 1 p.m., great entertainers and a few speakers throughout the day,” she said. “We have an after Pride party at a local restaurant called The Den. It’s a great way to unite and show our support and love to a marginalized community.”

Celotto said they are in the final planning phases of the Pride event.

“This is my first time doing anything like this, but I’ve had great help along the way,” she said.

Celotto said a neighboring town has already approached them, and talks have begun to do a shoreline Pride event.