Boston, MA

Boston organizers gear up for ‘safe and joyous’ Pride activities

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

Boston organizers gear up for ‘safe and joyous’ Pride activities

Pride event organizers in Boston are gearing up for a month of fun-filled events — and making sure that, as the president of Boston Pride for the People put it, those events are “safe and joyous.”

Organizers are taking those steps as federal agencies issued a public service announcement earlier this month about possible targeting of LGBTQ+ related events during Pride Month. Boston police told GBH News there are no known threats against local Pride events.

“There needs to be awareness without alarm,” said Tanya Neslusan, the executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group MassEquality.

“I don’t think the general public needs to be concerned,” she added. “Organizers of Pride events need to be aware of the threats and work with proper authorities, who are apprised of whatever threats there are.”

Adrianna Boulin, the president of Boston Pride for the People, said her group is aware of the advisory and is working to keep this year’s event safe.

“We are in close contact with our partners at the City and state who will help us prioritize the safety of everyone who comes to Pride while allowing for the true message and celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride to shine,” Boulin wrote to GBH News.

Wolf Hamel, committee member of the Boston Dyke March on June 7, is also keeping safety in mind.

“This is something we’ve been thinking about for a while,” Hamel said. “We kind of develop our own contacts with people who pay attention to kind of our local, right-wing folks — you know, like NSC-131, or something like that, the folks who organized Straight Pride.”

Last year’s Boston Dyke March attracted between three and four thousand people. Hamel said their group recruits and trains community safety volunteers called the “dyke patrol,” who are trained in de-escalation and crowd management, and Hamel suggests attendees seek out community volunteers if they run into any problems.

“We try to use our volunteers to create a buffer so that, you know, people feel welcome at our event and safe at our event,” Hamel said.

Nina Selvaggio is executive director of Greater Boston PFLAG, an advocacy and equity-affirming group of parents, families, and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. She said her group will march in the June 8 Boston Pride for the People parade, but is keenly aware of safety amid an intense national climate.

Selvaggio attributes the vitriol, domestically, to the election year.

“I think it’s frightening. We are in a moment in time that’s incredibly charged,” she told GBH News.

Selvaggio specifically points to anti-trans hatred and some 500 bills introduced at the state level around the country to restrict rights of LGBTQ+ people. She also cited the hoax bomb threat at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Southern Poverty Law Center’s identification of several active hate groups in Massachusetts.

“Because it is really based in hate and fear, and I think it’s hard for little kids to understand that someone would hate them or want to do them harm, simply because of who they are, who they love,” Selvaggio said.

Sergeant Detective John Boyle, a Boston Police spokesman, tells GBH News there is no known threat against Boston Pride events. Doyle said there will be a police presence at the Boston Pride for the People parade and that, as always, if people “see something, say something” — report it.

While Boston police will be on hand at the Dyke March, Hamel said many in the LGBTQ+ community have had negative experiences with police.

“There’s a lot of people who got maced by the Boston cops. There’s a lot of people who had hearing damage from the sirens. And they just don’t feel safe with a large police presence around,” Hamel said.

The national public service announcement, issued May 10 by the FBI and DHS, said “foreign terrorist organizations (FTOS) or their supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with upcoming June 2024 Pride Month.”

The federal agencies flagged specific potential indicators of a more serious threat, like specific and violent threats, unusual surveillance of events, and attempts to bypass security.

Boston’s Pride parade and other events are rooted in commemorating the Stonewall riots of 1969, which served as the catalyst for the gay rights movement. Many in the LGBTQ+ community see June Pride events as an opportunity to celebrate civil rights wins and create a joyous atmosphere for LGBTQ+ families and allies.

Selvaggio said she’s not surprised by the national public service announcement, and while it is difficult to explain homophobia or transphobia to a child, their approach will be for families and children to march with bubbles and noisemakers and lead with love.

“We can’t be silenced. We won’t be silenced,” Selvaggio said. “We think it’s important to celebrate who we are, to be out and proud — and, at the same time, working to ensure that our folks are safe.”

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Boston, MA

Each mile is for her miracle: This Granby mom is running the Boston Marathon with her daughter in mind

Published

9 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Boston Marathon

“With every mile I run, I will be thinking of her strength, her transplant journey, and the families who are walking similar paths right now.”

Brianna Poehler is running the 2026 Boston Marathon.
Brianna Poehler

By Carson Lyle

March 4, 2026 | 6:00 PM

2 minutes to read

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Brianna Poehler

City/State: Granby, Mass.

I am running the 2026 Boston Marathon with Miles for Miracles in support of Boston Children’s Hospital. The Boston Marathon is deeply personal to me and my family.

My daughter is a liver transplant survivor, and at just 11 months old, she received a life-saving liver transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital.

What could have been the most devastating chapter of our lives became a story of hope, resilience, and extraordinary care because of the BCH team.

When our daughter was so small and so sick, the doctors, nurses, and staff at Boston Children’s carried us through the unimaginable.

They combined world-class medical expertise with compassion that went far beyond treatment plans and hospital rooms. They cared for our daughter as if she were their own. They supported us as anxious, exhausted parents. They gave us answers when we had questions, and reassurance when we were overwhelmed.

Most importantly, they gave our daughter a second chance at life.

Today, she is thriving because of that gift. Every milestone she reaches is a reminder of the miracle she received and the team that made it possible. Running the Boston Marathon is my way of honoring that gift and saying thank you in the most meaningful way I can.

The marathon is a test of endurance, determination, and heart — qualities I saw in my daughter during her fight and in the Boston Children’s team every single day.

With every mile I run, I will be thinking of her strength, her transplant journey, and the families who are walking similar paths right now.

By running with Miles for Miracles, I hope to raise funds that will support groundbreaking research, life-saving treatments, and compassionate care for children like my daughter. This race is more than 26.2 miles — it is a celebration of survival, gratitude, and hope.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

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Boston, MA

Charlotte plays Boston on 5-game win streak

Published

22 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Charlotte plays Boston on 5-game win streak

Charlotte Hornets (31-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (41-20, second in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Celtics -6.5; over/under is 214.5

BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte is looking to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Hornets take on Boston.

The Celtics are 27-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is sixth in the NBA with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 8.8.

The Hornets are 19-21 in conference matchups. Charlotte is 7-8 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 15.0 turnovers per game.

The Celtics average 15.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 more made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Hornets allow. The Hornets average 16.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Celtics allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylen Brown is averaging 29 points, 7.1 rebounds and five assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 17 points and 5.8 assists over the past 10 games.

Kon Knueppel is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 109.4 points, 50.7 rebounds, 27.1 assists, 6.1 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 98.5 points per game.

Hornets: 7-3, averaging 117.3 points, 47.8 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.2 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Neemias Queta: day to day (rest).

Hornets: Coby White: day to day (injury management).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Boston, MA

First Alert: Mix of snow and rain today, then looking ahead to warmer weather

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

First Alert: Mix of snow and rain today, then looking ahead to warmer weather

Today is a First Alert weather day. A system to our south is pushing mix of snow and rain into southern New England through this evening and tonight.

For us here in Greater Boston, expect snow to continue spreading over our area through the afternoon/evening commute. In fact, parts our area could see up to 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation before the sleet and rain move in.

Much of Greater Boston will likely see snow amounts on the lower end. Higher snow amounts are expected toward southern New Hampshire and along and north of outer Route 2. Also, some ice accumulations are possible, up to a tenth of an inch, creating a thin glaze here and there.

Dozens of schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts have already announced early dismissals as a result of the storm.

While this system won’t cripple our area, conditions could still create a mess on the roads during the evening commute through tonight. Be careful while driving. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for parts of our area through early Wednesday morning. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s today. Overnight lows will drop into the low 30s.

We’ll wake up to patchy fog Wednesday morning before the sun returns. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s. We’ll stay in the 40s on Thursday with increasing clouds. But by late Thursday night into Friday, wet weather returns. Some snow could mix with the rain into Friday morning. Highs will be in the upper 30s Friday.