NORTH SYRACUSE — In 1999, President Bill Clinton first declared the month of June “Gay and Lesbian Month,” since then, other presidents have followed suit. President Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month, and President Joe Biden in 2021 declared it LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Celebrations for gay pride provide visibility to community members and offer an opportunity for understanding, dignity and equality.
As educational institutions for the community, libraries offer a unique location for learning. Events like Pride Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month provide an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the rich history and achievements of these groups in our society.
One such event is the Northern Onondaga Public Library (NOPL) North Syracuse Branch Annual Pride Picnic on Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be food and beverages, outdoor games, children’s crafts, and music. Plus, a special appearance from Elsa, from the movie “Frozen,” is expected, and balloon twisting will be offered from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The event is free; please register at nopl.org/events.
Other pride events at North Syracuse Branch include an evening storytime on June 14 at 6 p.m. Where listeners will look at several individuals who have contributed to the Pride movement, such as Elton John, Marsha P. Johnson, and Jose Sarria; a special craft project will follow.
Another pride craft event can be found at NOPL’s Brewerton Branch on June 28. There will be multiple projects such as Pride Rocks, tissue Pride flags, rainbow butterflies, and more. This is a drop-in event, and craft kits will be available while supplies last.
If you can’t attend these NOPL Pride events, there are other libraries in Onondaga County providing LGBTQ+ programs. Liverpool Public Library offers a monthly LGBTQ+ Teen Group where younger community members can celebrate who they are together. For more information on these programs and other events at your library, visit your local library’s website; find NOPL at nopl.org and Liverpool Library at lpl.org.
