Fall River Pride Committee

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Fall River Pride Committee We work in partnership with Church of the Holy Spirit. We work to bring The Fall River Pride Festival every June.

We are a resource and community hub for the Greater Fall River LGBTQ+ population, friends, & allies! 🏳️‍🌈

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight:William Dorsey Swann (1860–1925) 🏳️‍🌈Meet the man who crowned himself the original "Queen...
10/19/2026

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight:
William Dorsey Swann (1860–1925) 🏳️‍🌈

Meet the man who crowned himself the original "Queen of Drag."

Born into slavery in Maryland, Swann went on to become a fierce trailblazer in Washington, D.C., during the late 19th century. He is the first known person in history to self-identify as a "queen of drag" and the first American activist to lead a q***r resistance group.

In the 1880s and 90s, Swann organized secret balls where formerly enslaved men gathered to dance in beautiful silk and satin dresses—laying the foundation for modern ballroom and drag culture.

During a violent police raid in 1888, Swann bravely fought back against officers to protect his guests. It is one of the earliest documented acts of LGBTQ+ resistance in U.S. history.

In 1896, he petitioned President Grover Cleveland for a pardon after being wrongfully arrested. While denied, it was the first time an American took legal action to defend the community's right to assemble.

This month, we honor Swann’s incredible courage, joy, and resistance! 🏳️‍🌈✨

🖋️ LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight: Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992) 🏳️‍🌈A Black transgender woman, drag artist, and activis...
10/16/2026

🖋️ LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight:

Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992) 🏳️‍🌈

A Black transgender woman, drag artist, and activist, Marsha was a foundational figure in the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement.

When police raided New York’s Stonewall Inn in 1969, she stood on the front lines, helping spark a global movement for equality. ✊🏾

Affectionately called the "Saint of Christopher Street," Marsha co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to provide housing and food to homeless q***r youth, and later became a dedicated HIV/AIDS advocate with ACT UP.

When people judged or questioned her identity, her famous response was always: "Pay It No Mind"—a beautiful reminder to live authentically, no matter what. 💖

Let’s never forget the trans women of color who paved the way for the rights we have today. 🌈✨

📢 Extra, Extra! ✨ We’re very happy to share our new seasonal newsletter: “The Pride Gazette”! Please enjoy our very firs...
10/12/2026

📢 Extra, Extra! ✨ We’re very happy to share our new seasonal newsletter: “The Pride Gazette”! Please enjoy our very first issue!

We also want the community to get involved too. Please help us expand our Community Connections page with art, literary works, events, Op Ed’s, we want to hear from you!

Thank you! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight: The Public Universal Friend (1752-1819) 🏳️‍🌈The Public Universal Friend is a local indiv...
10/12/2026

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight:

The Public Universal Friend (1752-1819) 🏳️‍🌈

The Public Universal Friend is a local individual, born in Rhode Island in 1752!

They suffered a severe, near-fatal illness during a typhus outbreak in 1776. Upon recovering, they experienced a profound spiritual awakening. They declared that their birth identity had passed away, and their body was now inhabited by a genderless spirit sent by God to preach.

From that moment on, the Friend completely shed their former name and gender: They wore distinctive, flowing robes and a large hat that blended traditional 18th-century male and female clothing styles. Refusal of Pronouns: They refused to answer to their birth name or any gendered pronouns, instructing followers to refer to them simply as "The Friend" or "The Public Universal Friend." A Message of Equality: The Friend became a highly successful preacher, founding a community that advocated for peace, property rights for women, and the abolition of slavery.

The Public Universal Friend’s story is a beautiful reminder that gender-transcendent and non-binary individuals are not a modern concept! They have always been a vibrant, resilient part of our shared history. 🏳️‍🌈✨

Happy National Coming Out Day! 🏳️‍🌈 Living openly and authentically can be one of the most freeing journeys of someone’s...
10/11/2026

Happy National Coming Out Day! 🏳️‍🌈

Living openly and authentically can be one of the most freeing journeys of someone’s life. ✨

To our beautiful LGBTQ+ community: whether you are out and proud, or still figuring things out in your own time, please know that you are deeply loved, valid, and beautiful exactly as you are. 💕

Thank you to everyone who has loved and supported people who have come out, your kindness means the world, truly. ❤️

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight: Rodney Wilson (1965 -) 🏳️‍🌈Did you know that LGBTQ+ History Month was started by a high ...
10/10/2026

LGBTQ+ History Month Spotlight:
Rodney Wilson (1965 -) 🏳️‍🌈

Did you know that LGBTQ+ History Month was started by a high school teacher?

In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a history teacher from Missouri, made history by becoming the first openly gay public school teacher in the state. But he didn't stop there.

He noticed a massive gap in the curriculum: the vital stories, struggles, and triumphs of LGBTQ+ individuals were completely absent from history books.

Believing that history is a powerful tool for building self-confidence and empathy, Wilson gathered a coalition of teachers and activists.
Together, they designated October as a month dedicated to q***r education.

Because of Rodney’s grassroots vision, millions of people around the world spend this month learning about the icons who paved the way for equality.

Thank you, Rodney, for making sure LGBTQ+ history took its rightful place in the human story. 🏳️‍🌈✨

🏳️‍🌈 Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: LGBTQ+ History Month 2026October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a dedicated time...
10/09/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Honoring Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: LGBTQ+ History Month 2026

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a dedicated time to look back, learn, and celebrate the trailblazers who fought for the rights, dignity, and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community. 🌎

While Pride Month in June often focuses on celebration and ongoing protest, October gives us a special opportunity to focus on education, reflection, and honoring the individuals who shaped history. 🖊️

Throughout October, we will be shining a spotlight on historic icons, and modern heroes who have made a lasting impact.

History isn't just a collection of dates, it is a collection of brave individual stories. Follow along, and celebrate these incredible legacies with us all month! 🏳️‍🌈

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Fall River, MA

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+15085658059

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