Raising of the Pride Progress Flag

Springfield College continued to celebrate Pride Month with the raising of the Pride Progress flag—a symbol that we welcome everyone to live and love freely without fear and shame. The ceremony took place in front of Marsh Memorial and was led by Springfield College Vice President for Inclusion and Community Engagement Calvin Hill, Chief of Staff Kathleen Martin, and Director of Spiritual Life David McMahon. 

View Flag Raising Ceremony Photo Gallery

The rainbow flag, with colors added to represent Black, brown, and trans communities, and a generation lost to AIDS, symbolizes the importance of raising the visibility of the LGBTQ experience. Springfield College also pauses to feel gratitude to LGBTQ activists before, during, and after the Stonewall riots in 1969, who advocated for gay rights; we know that work continues.

Last summer during Conversations on Race, Springfield College chose the theme: Silence is not an option, and words without action are not enough. This commitment extends to all marginalized communities and remains central to our diversity, equity, and inclusion work. This past April, the College hosted its first Pride Parade on campus during Rainbow Fest Week to celebrate, honor, and acknowledge the diversity of our LGBTQ community and to focus on education, building awareness, and unity among the LGBTQ/ally/accomplice communities.

Springfield College remains steadfast in its commitment to equality and fair treatment for all. As a campus everyone is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful campus community, not only in vision but in practice. The Springfield College commitment to diversity and inclusion is rooted in the belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures, and belief systems are essential to academic excellence.