The LGBTQ+ members of the Weymouth community are coming together in an effort to support student members of Weymouth High School’s Human Rights Coalition.

• Pride flags flown at each of the 12 Weymouth Public Schools
• A portion of WHS sidewalks to be painted with rainbow colors

As members of the LGBTQ+ Weymouth community, we firmly believe that representation matters for all members of our Weymouth community. We support the request for Pride flags to be flown at all 12 public schools in Weymouth. We want all students, families, faculty, and staff to feel validated, seen, supported, and safe. The Weymouth Pride Project would love to help where and when we can with the bullet as mentioned above points raised by the WHS students.

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“My hope is that we can exercise some courage as a district and honor our students’ request.”

Rebecca Shangraw - Weymouth School Committee Elected Official, updated us about following up with Superintendent Wargo. The WHS students’ requested a rainbow crosswalk at the high school and to raise the PRIDE flag at all 12 Weymouth Public Schools.

The WHS students circulated a petition supporting these two requests, and in under a week, more than 300 students signed it. Two WHS seniors presented to School Committee, asking for their support. We’re still awaiting a decision from Superintendent Wargo.

From Rebecca: on the *** May 12, 2022, Weymouth School Committee Meeting***

Cliffs Notes

“Student Requests Re: Pride Month (June) Recognition
During our last School Committee meeting, student members of Weymouth High School’s Human Rights Coalition asked the Committee and district administration if the rainbow pride flag could fly under the American flag on flagpoles throughout the district during pride month. They also requested for portions of WHS sidewalks to be painted with rainbow colors.

At our meeting Thursday night, I asked the Superintendent for a follow-up about any progress the administration has made regarding the students’ request. The Superintendent indicated he’s not ready to report anything definitive yet, but he’s working on the request.

The act of flying the rainbow flag on district flag poles is a very impactful move not only for our WPS community members but for the LGBTQIA+ Weymouth community members and the Weymouth community-at-large.

As the first state to legalize marriage equality in 2004 and a pioneer in LGBTQIA laws and protections, the state of Massachusetts officially recognizes June as pride month. Cities and towns all over the Commonwealth raise the rainbow flag during pride month as a show of support and acceptance for their LGBTQIA friends, family members, students, employees, and neighbors.

Seeing the rainbow flag on WPS flag poles would be an incredible demonstration of support and allyship at a time when the LGBTQIA+ community is bracing for a possible state-by-state (or federal) attempt to roll back the civil rights and legal protections of LGBTQIA citizens. Now, more than ever, public shows of support for the LGBTQIA community are very, very meaningful to the gay community.

Our hope as active LGBTQ+ members within the Weymouth community is that we can exercise some courage as a district and honor our students’ requests.