The community is invited to the Pride Month opening ceremony at the Robert H. Jackson Center, 305 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, on Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m.

The kick-off rally will feature the raising of Jamestown’s Progress Pride flag. Designed in 2018 and based on the rainbow flag from 1978, the Progress Pride flag celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society. The added chevron along the hoist features black, brown, light blue, pink, and white stripes to bring those communities – marginalized people of color, trans people, and those living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been lost – to the forefront.

This June, Pride month marks the 55th anniversary of Stonewall, a series of protests by the LGBTQ community after a police raid during the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, on the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. This became a seminal event in the history of the LGBTQ movement for equal rights in this country. As such, the flag-raising will include local speakers instrumental in building greater rights for the LGBTQ community in Jamestown and Chautauqua County.

The rally will also include voter registration, refreshments and opportunities to purchase Jamestown Pride merchandise.

The following Saturday, June 8, is the 2024 Jamestown Pride, with events occurring throughout the day in downtown Jamestown.

Jamestown Pride will hold its first variety show at noon at the Winter Garden Plaza, 313 N. Main St. Local performers of all ages are invited to audition their talents for a family audience. Activities on June 8 begin with 8 a.m. yoga at the Winter Garden Plaza, 313 North Main Street. Later events there are a community drum circle, live music, the variety show and drag performances including Thee Suburbia, who was so popular – especially with kids – in 2022. The Rainbow Walk departs from the Winter Garden at 1 p.m.

With the season opening of the Jamestown Public Market, Pride vendors and community organizations will have tables and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Evening entertainment includes drag, burlesque and dancing.

Sunday morning, June 9, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church have Pride services. Jamestown Pride closes with a drag brunch fundraiser at Rose & Grace Studios.

For the full schedule, visit JamestownPride.org/Events and click on Agenda.

Community members can volunteer to assist with set-up, tear-down, and other event needs by signing up at bit.ly/JPrideVol.

The 2024 Jamestown Pride is presented by Evergreen Health and the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County. Contact info@JamestownPride.com to learn more and receive a sponsorship packet.