Connecticut
CT’s oldest queer prom returns for its 30th year. How juniors and seniors can celebrate
Connecticut’s oldest Queer Prom is returning for its 30th year for high school juniors and seniors in Connecticut, according to a release.
The Health Collective’s 30th annual Queer Prom returns Friday, June 28, at the Bond Ballroom in Hartford, giving LGBTQIA+ students the chance to celebrate in a safe and fun way, per a release.
Its “Starry Night” theme will have students dancing beneath the stars in the Grand Ballroom overlooking the cityscape and Bushnell Memorial Park, according to a release.
Angel Reef, one of Hartford’s favorite drag queens, will be joining DJ Reefa, another Hartford native and queer community staple.
Students will have plenty more available to celebrate: hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, space to mix, mingle and take photos, and have tarot card readings, per a release. There will also be a safe and supportive space for students to decompress courtesy of Q-Plus in the form of a Sensory Room.
“The Health Collective is proud to offer our Queer Prom as a means to affirm, empower, and heal queer youth within Connecticut,” said David Grant, executive director of the Health Collective. “This experience provides a safe space free of the cisgender and heteronormative barriers which often deter LGBTQIA+ students from attending those within their own schools.”
Pride Month is right around the corner. Check out these CT events and join the celebration
“As a city, Hartford is committed to continuing the work necessary to ensure we are an inclusive City,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “It’s crucial that all of our residents feel safe, feel like they belong, and grow up feeling embraced by our community and those around them.”
A woman was arrested and charged with murdering a man whose body was found behind a condominium complex in Farmington in March, police said on Friday.
Cynthia Martinez, 27, was charged with murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm, tampering with evidence, and criminal use of a firearm in connection with the death of 29-year-old Derick William Mercado-Labonte of Bridgeport.
On March 19, officers responded to Talcott Forest Road around 10 a.m. for the report of an untimely death.
They found the body of Mercado-Labonte along the wood line behind a condominium complex. He appeared to have sustained multiple areas of trauma, according to police.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mercado-Labonte’s death a homicide.
Martinez is being held on a $3,000,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Torrington Superior Court on Friday.
Police said no further information will be released at this time, as this remains an active and ongoing investigation.
New data is shedding light on the state of Connecticut’s economy and labor force.
On this episode of the CBIA BizCast, CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord joins host Amanda Marlow to talk about new Connecticut Department of Labor data that highlights the mismatch between increased job openings and a shrinking labor force.
Connecticut job openings jumped 2.6% in May to 87,356—however, since May 2025, 37,700 people have left Connecticut’s labor force.
Nord breaks down some of the reasons for this mismatch and what needs to be done to address Connecticut’s economic challenges.
He also shares insights into a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report showing Connecticut’s economy expanded 1.8% in the first quarter of 2026.
Episode Highlights:
- Job Openings vs. Workforce Shortage
- Unemployment Trends
- GDP Growth Amid Labor Challenges
- Affordability and Long-Term Competitiveness
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