Putnam Pride
Putnam Pride is a grassroots organization dedicated to building a welcoming community for queer people of all ages to gather and celebrate in Putnam County. We strive to take an intersectional approach that spotlights the most marginalized groups and to use our platform as a vehicle for creating real change. We believe that Black Lives Matter and trans rights are human rights.
Putnam is the only county in the lower Hudson Valley that, until 2020, had no public pride events. That changed when a small group of us marched down Gleneida Avenue in Carmel, NY on June 22, 2020 in solidarity with black lives in the wake of the George Floyd murder. While we could not have the parade we had planned in Cold Spring due to Covid, the event brought more visibility to marginalized groups in Putnam.
On June 5th, 2021, we had our 2nd annual Putnam Pride Celebration in Carmel, NY!
On June 12, 2022 we held the 3rd Annual Putnam Pride, featuring the following speakers:
State Senator Pete Harckham (D-40)
James Young, Queery
Cole Caulfield, Putnam Valley Library
Tony Arrien, The Loft; GLSEN
Justice McCray, Beacon4BlackLives, Desmond-Fish Public Library (Garrison, NY)
Once again, our Emcees and Hosts were:
Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pinesheld
Angel and ShayD’Pines led a walk down Main Street in Brewster Village to Wells Park, where a stage featured local performers, music and other entertainment.
Performers:
Angel Elektra and ShayD’Pines• Kitty Ka’Boodlez•Fia Sanchez • Monkeytown Milk Spillers •The Geology Club• Tempomental• Iden.t.T