Pride in Motion: 5K Kicks Off Swampscott’s LGBTQ+ Celebration

Swampscott’s third annual Run with Pride 5K kicked off Saturday afternoon with a wave of rainbow flags and cheering supporters, as roughly 150 runners took off from Town Hall just after 4 p.m.

The 3.1-mile course wound through the heart of town, guiding participants along Humphrey Street, Puritan Road, Gale Road, Winshaw Road, and back again.

“The 5K was awesome. This event is awesome,” said runner Lucy Brown. “It’s great to see the Swampscott community come together to celebrate pride.”

Pride flags were on display throughout the event || Quinn Hitchcock

The race set the tone for the town’s broader Pride Celebration, which followed immediately afterward with music, food, and heartfelt messages from local advocates and students.

Swampscott High School student Leo Blessman, a member of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), served as the event’s emcee.

“I’m really grateful that we get to celebrate with such a wonderful event for everyone to come together and support one another and just love love,” he said.

Another highlight was a brief speech delivered by Swampscott Middle School GSA members Adela Bander, Kat Locke, and Lily Driscoll. The trio spoke about the history of Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.

The event also featured an energetic lip-sync performance by local drag artist Madam Zapple, who reminded the crowd of the importance of pride.

“Pride is especially important this year,” she said. “We need to be supporting the queer community, supporting and loving each other and holding each other close right now.”

Madam Zapple plays to the crowd during her performance || Quinn Hitchcock

Community organizations filled the area outside Town Hall, offering support, resources, and celebration.

Groups such as the North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth (NAGLY), Foster MA, and S.U.R.E. Diversity were joined by representatives from the Swampscott High and Middle School GSAs, as well as the Swampscott Church of Spiritualism.

Tony Leone, program director at NAGLY, urged young attendees not to lose hope.

“LGBTQI+ youth are at an all-time high risk for experiencing hate, ridicule, bullying, and harassment, just for living their authentic truth,” he said. “You’re not in this alone. We’re in this fight together.”

The event, which ran until 7 p.m., concluded with the raising of the Pride flag and a lively performance by Turtle on a String, a local band made up of Swampscott High School students.