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September 2024 - 

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Sacred Cloth to be Unfurled in Bellows Falls, Vermont for National Coming Out Day

 

(Bellows Falls, Vermont)    It is the responsibility of Pride organizations everywhere to make National Coming Out Day in 2024 a rallying cry for equality, safety and freedom. On Wednesday, October 9 at 10am, Bellows Falls Pride will unfurl the historic 14’ x 25’ Sacred Cloth, aka Section 93, of the original Key West Sea-to-Sea Rainbow Flag from the top of the Windham Hotel to the street, formerly the site of the iconic Andrews Inn (1973-1984) in downtown Bellows Falls, Vermont.  The Inn offered bars, discos and lodging, a safe place for rural and urban LGBTQ people from up and down the East Coast to travel by train and gather in the heart of downtown Bellows Falls, Vermont.  The building now houses the restaurant, Ciao Popolo.

 

“The flag, known as Section 93, measures 14 by 25 feet, is one section of the historic Rainbow25 flag sewn together by Gilbert Baker in Key West, Fla., in 2003 to create a 1.25-mile-long flag in the original eight colors (versus the six colors that became more common). That flag marked the 25th anniversary of the 1978 flag originally created by Baker. The Sea-to-Sea Flag was later cut into sections, and Section 93 is preserved as the Sacred Cloth. It has traveled the globe to be displayed at celebrations, occasions of mourning, and historic moments. Section 93 was displayed in downtown Orlando in June 2016 following the deadly Pulse nightclub shootings and has returned to Orlando each year on the anniversary of the tragedy.”

 

National Coming Out Day brings awareness for the LGBTQ+ community and allies. The annual remembrance, which officially takes place on October 11, encourages gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and other members of the LGBTQ+ community to “come out of the closet,” which is a metaphor the community has used to mean recognizing and revealing one’s authentic self.  Mark Ebenhoch of Key West and Brattleboro manages stewardship of the Sacred Cloth throughout the country and is bringing it to Bellows Falls. Most recently CNN created a display in Atlanta.

 

Attendees and residents are invited to visit the Ciao Popolo lounge from 11am-4pm to participate in the nationwide “Postcards to Swing States” project.  The goal of Bellows Falls Pride is to send 500 completed postcards to Ohio residents ahead of the 2024 Presidential election, which is considered a life-or-death moment for the LGBTQ+ community.  The national project aims to send 25 million postcards to 11 swing states.  Coffee and refreshments will be available during this time.  

  

Keller Williams Metro Keene Realty and M&T Bank Bellows Falls are sponsors of this event. Find Bellows Falls Pride on Facebook, Instagram on www.bellowsfallspride.com.

https://www.facebook.com/BruceMurphyRealtor/

 

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