Our History
The Greater Waterbury LGBTQIA+ Pride Coalition’s history acknowledges the history and work of those individuals and movements who came before, who have attempted to bring a Pride celebration to the Brass City.
Our Story:
In and around 2022 there were several organizations and LGBTQIA+ individuals who noticed that the city of Waterbury had several individual “Pride” events run as one-offs by separate and sometimes competing groups. These activities and events did have some level of success; however, there had not been a collective citywide effort to produce and present a Greater Waterbury Pride celebration. From there, Rafael Feliciano-Roman, Founder/Visionary of the Afro Caribbean Cultural Center, called a convening of these groups and individuals, and in 2023, the Greater Waterbury LGBTQIA+ Pride Coalition was formed, a group consisting of over 15 organizations and more than 10 individual LGBTQIA+ organizers who planned and produced the first citywide Pride Week.
The first year, LGBTQIA+ Pride week events were attended by over 1,000 people, and, for the first time in City of Waterbury history, the LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Flag was raised at City Hall and an LGBTQIA+ Mayor of the Day was announced.
The coalition’s future goals are to continue to produce an annual Pride Festival and both Pride-Month-long and year-round activities and events, while also striving long-term to bring a LGBTQIA+ Pride Center to the city, as well as connecting with the city’s youth and schools to support, protect, and defend the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the Brass City.
2023 LGBTQIA+ Mayor for the Day: Denise Martinez
2024 LGBTQIA+ Mayor for the Day: Bob Burns
2025 LGBTQIA+ Mayor for the Day: Lynn Discenza
Greater Waterbury LGBTQIA+ Pride 