Milford Pride
W
hen Sarah O’Brien came home to Milford after her freshman year at Clark University, she felt empowered by the inclusive and welcoming environment LGTBQ+ students had found on campus. That positivity and excitement
contrasted with what she perceived as a general lack of engagement with LGBTQ+ issues she experienced while attending Milford schools. As O’Brien puts it, “By the time I was in high
COURTESY OF MILFORD PRIDE
milford spotlight
school, same sex marriage in Connecticut had already been legal for almost 10 years, but it
The Rainbow Pride flag is raised on the Milford City
was never mentioned. There was nothing about the gay rights movement. Even the prom,
Hall flagpole in celebration of Pride Weekend 2019.
it seemed, wasn’t really open to everyone.” O’Brien looked at the two disparate approaches toward inclusion and saw an opening to bring people together, raise awareness, increase
LGTBQ+ teens noted high levels of anxiety,
visibility, and bring attention to the issues important to Milford’s LGBTQ+ community.
feelings of rejection, and fears for their safety. Add COVID-19-related social distancing, lockdowns,
In the summer of 2018, shortly after turning
encourage the LGBTQ+ community in Milford to
distance learning, and economic anxiety to these
18, Sarah placed an ad in the Milford Patch
come together, make connections, and make new
already problematic issues, and organizations
looking for residents interested in forming a
friends. When the group was in its early days,
like Milford Pride begin to hold an even more
LGBTQ+ organization. It garnered eight phone
O’Brien noted that some people were surprised
important place within the community. As
calls. Her next step was a visit to the Milford
to find that there were other LGBTQ+ people
O’Brien says, “Imagine being a teenager locked
Oyster Festival with a bunch of pride flags,
living in greater Milford. This, unfortunately, is
down during a pandemic in a house with parents
pamphlets, and a signup sheet. By the end of
not uncommon; there is often a greater sense
who are openly hostile to your identity, to your
the day, 175 people had joined the group and
of isolation and ostracization for gay and trans
true self. It would be comforting to know that
Milford Pride was born.
people, feelings often felt more acutely by teens
there are people out there who understand what
and senior citizens. A 2018 survey of 2,000
you are going through.”
One of the main missions of Milford Pride is to
Another aspect of Milford Pride is the great love its members have for the town. While some members have lived in Milford their whole lives, others have chosen to make Milford their home and found its beauty, charm, and sense of community the perfect place to settle down and raise children. Since the group’s founding, the local government, Mayor Ben Blake, town officals, and churches have been supportive of Milford Pride’s goals. O’Brien praises the town for its role in helping bring about greater visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+
COURTESY OF MILFORD PRIDE
community and to educate people about its
18 Milford Living • Spring
issues. “One of the greatest days was in 2019 when City Hall raised the Pride flag,” she says. “The Mayor has been great; the library hosted Milford Pride reaches out to the community at local events like the Milford Oyster Festival.
