Newton kicked off Pride Month with a flag-raising, an outdoor party and perhaps the most beautiful weather of the year so far.

There were vendors, informational booths, a dog in a rainbow tutu–Pride on full display in full technicolor–all against the backdrop of national tensions for LGBTQ Americans.

In his remarks, Mayor Marc Laredo bluntly called out that national tension and vowed to keep Newton free of it.

“Folks, we gather this evening to stand together and proudly, proudly support our LGBTQIA+ community at a moment in history when basic human rights are being relentlessly challenged, when instead of making progress we are sliding backwards, and when the White House and others in positions of power are trying to pit neighbor against neighbor, but that is not the case right here in the city of Newton,” Laredo said. “We raise the Pride flag today because Newton is and will remain a welcoming city where every resident, and I mean every single resident, has the right to feel safe, live openly, love whom they love and be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.”

Laredo noted that elsewhere in America, laws are being proposed and passed that remove legal protections from gay and transgender people, both at the state level and in Congress.

The mayor co-sponsored a city resolution with City Councilor Cyrus Dahmubed, which the Programs and Services Committee approved Wednesday night for a full Council vote a week from Monday.

“Fifty-seven years after the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, 48 years after the first rainbow flag waved at the Gay Freedom Day parade in San Francisco, and 26 years after the first transgender pride parade pride flag waved in Phoenix, Arizona, we stand together as one community to say that, to say that in Newton, in the city of Newton, that we all love, we will continue to protect our residents. We will not go backwards, and we will not allow undemocratic forces to foment division within our great city,” Laredo continued.

Here are some photos from Wednesday’s event.

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Newton Community Service Chief John Rice and Deputy Economic Development Director Cheryl Lappin attend Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Dr. Darlene Flores, a medical professional for the Taino Community and organizer for Indigenous Peoples Day Newton, hosts a booth at Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

LGBTQ activist and former City Councilor Holly Ryan, left, and Janet Asch, right, attend Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Newton raised it’s Pride Flag on Jiune 2, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Left to right: Laredo administration Chief of Staff Dana Hanson and city clouncilors Julia Malakie and Julie Irish attend Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Mayor Marc Laredo speaks at Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Left to right: City councilors Susan Albright, Martha Bixby and Brittany Hume Charm attend Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Mayor Marc Laredo speaks at Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Eliza Spaulding, chair of the Newton Human Rights Commission, speaks at Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Tamika Olszewski, member of the Newton School Committee member and Newton Human Rights Commission, hosts a table at Newton’s Pride Flag ceremony on June 3, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Carly, 5 months old., attends her first Pride Flag event wearing festive gear. Photo by Bryan McGonigle