The Block Island community opened its arms for Pride Weekend. Businesses hung rainbow flags and swags. Lengths of tulle decorated porch columns, stair rails, and telephone poles. Posters were made, and t-shirts were sold by island youth involved in the group QueerBlock Island, which organized the events and enlisted the help of venues – from restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels to the Island Free Library, The Nature Conservancy, and the Ocean View Foundation.The long weekend started off with a drag queen mingle at the library on Thursday, Sept. 16 and ended with Soundwaves’ showing of the movie “Pride” at the Fred Benson Town Beach Pavilion on Sunday evening.
The main event – the march on Saturday, started off from the Ocean View Foundation Pavilion, where marchers gathered and socialized before the walk through town. The New Shoreham Police Department had their backs – and front. If there were to be fewer than 50 participants, they would take the sidewalk. More than 50 and “you get the street.” And so it was that traffic was temporarily stopped at the “Rebecca Rotary,” and, with lights flashing, the police provided an escort as the marchers danced down Water and Dodge Streets to
