Boston Pride Announces 2019 Parade Winners at Fall Open House

Tito’s Vodka Donates $10,000 to Boston Pride’s Community Fund

Boston Pride announced today its 2019 Parade Winners for the Boston Pride Parade and Festival that was held this past June. The winners for different competing categories were announced at its Fall Open House on Tuesday, October 29th.

The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were honored for best adaptation to this year’s theme, “Looking Back, Loving Forward.” Boston Taiwanese for Equality received the Best Marching Group award, the Dorchester Brewing Company received the award for the Best Float, while the Mosaic School received the award for the Best Youth Group. First time competitor, REI, was also awarded with the Best First Timers Award.

“The 2019 Boston Pride Parade was the largest one in our history and we had wonderful participation from the LGBTQ community and our allies,” said Martha Plaza, Parade Chair and Boston Pride Board Member.  “There were so many thoughtful and creative contingents representing this year’s theme ‘Looking Back, Loving Forward’ and we are truly excited to present the awards to the winners.”

Additionally, Tito’s Vodka presented a $10,000 donation included in their $30,000 donation to Boston Pride for the Boston Pride Community Fund, which supports grassroots LGBTQ organizations. This year, Boston Pride distributed a record amount from the Community Fund – more than $46,000 to 24 grassroots organizations throughout the Commonwealth. Since 2016, Boston Pride has awarded almost $100,000 to approximately 60 local grassroots organizations, supporting the mission of promoting social justice for the LGBTQ community. Pride sponsors helped to fund costs associated with the parade, festival and other free public events, and 10 percent of all sponsorships are dedicated to the Community Fund.

(Presentation of Donation to Boston Pride Community Fund By Tito’s Vodka)

“We are grateful for the support for Boston Pride’s Community Fund and especially to Tito’s Vodka who is donating $10,000,” said Linda DeMarco, Boston Pride President.  “The Boston Pride Community Fund provides grants to small grassroots LGBTQ groups that may not have any other financial assistance.”

Applications for Boston Pride’s Community Fund will be open on November 1 – December 31, 2019. Information is on Boston Pride website: https://www.bostonpride.org/fund/

The 49th Boston Pride Parade and Festival held this past June set new records with the parade consisting of a record-breaking 431 contingents and over 50,000 marchers who marched along the 2.27-mile route from Copley Square to City Hall Plaza. An estimated one million spectators attended the parade. 

Highlights of this year’s Pride Parade included two large flags – the Unity Flag, a patchwork quilt flag that represents intersectionality and unity in the LGBTQ community and the River of Pride Flag, a quarter-mile long rainbow flag that ended the Pride Parade.

Boston Pride’s Official Broadcast Partner NBC10 Boston, Telemundo Boston and NECN helped spread awareness of Pride Week through special programming, news stories, live coverage and interviews, moderating events.

Boston Pride is currently planning for 2020, which will mark the 50th anniversary of Boston Pride.