“We’re celebrating PRIDE this June just like we’re celebrating every day of the year, getting together and creating a community space where we can all be ourselves,” Pizzo said. 22MADAWASKA, Maine For the first time in its history, Aroostook County will celebrate Pride Month with a parade on Friday, June 25, and a weekend of festivities. MORE NEWS: Mayor Scott Allocates Another $11M Of ARPA Funds To Address Food Insecurity They plan on doing a few PRIDE events – all listed on their website and social media pages. Men holding Christopher Street Liberation Day banner, 1970. But since the start of the pandemic, the parade has been canceled, prompting the team to look for other ways to celebrate. The first gay pride march took place in New York City on Jthe one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. “Being here, you’re a rugby player, and that’s all it is,” said Rowe.Įvery year, the team has the tradition of participating in Baltimore’s PRIDE Parade. It’s what keeps them coming back to the Flamingos. “I played on a girls team in high school, transitioned, played on a men’s team in college and it was fun, but I mean it was uncomfortable,” he said. Pizzo is the only Flamingos player who played rugby throughout high school and college.
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Part of the reason the players said they enjoy the team so much is because this feeling of community and inclusion is so hard to find. READ MORE: Maryland Weather: Tornado Watch Canceled In Northern Maryland “It’s a safe space to celebrate you for who you are, regardless of what that means,” Wright said of the team. But Rowe described the team as so welcoming, after the first practice Rowe bought cleats and joined in. One player, Rowe, said they never played rugby much less any contact sport before in their life. The team includes players who identify as gay and trans, and no rugby experience is required. “Sports just in general haven’t always been the most queer welcoming of places in the world,” said Joshua Franklin, one the Flamingos players.įranklin was drawn to the team for the same reason Wright was, “I felt safe, I felt happy here.” READ MORE: Police Respond To Shooting At Owings Mills Shopping Center The Flamingos are part of the International Gay Rugby Organization, comprised of over one hundred teams worldwide, created to combat homophobia in rugby and sports. “We’re Maryland’s first gay rugby team,” said team captain, Val Pizzo. It’s one of the biggest factors that drew him into joining the Baltimore Flamingos. BALTIMORE (WJZ) - When Bryan Wright moved to Baltimore three years ago, he had no friends, no family, but knew he needed some sort of community.