Act Out, Fort Hamilton’s club for LGBTQ+ students and their allies, held its fourth annual Pridefest on June 5th, 2024. At the event, students enjoyed live music, refreshments and performances from the Cheer Squad and Jazz Band.
The event’s success was due to the contributions of many people at Fort. Mx. Crimmins, the advisor of Act Out, told The Pilot that there were many figures at Fort Hamilton who offered support with organizing, planning, and performing at Pridefest.
“Act Out has a lot of help within our school,” Mx. Crimmins said. “Ms. DePaula and Mr. Alvear help us plan and promote. Ms. Rivera supported our group and myself emotionally and through a social justice lens. Ms. Estrada was our first collaborator with her cheer squad. Ms. Westerlund and Ms. Martinez supplied the musical performances. And of course, it wouldn’t be Pride without our hardworking and talented student performers.”
The event included various activities for many students. “The layout of the entire event made it so that one didn’t have to stand and wait out a performance if they didn’t want to,” said junior and Act Out Member Agatha Kaschei. “It was easy to just walk off and enjoy some lemonade while still engaging in Pridefest as a whole.”
Allyship awards were handed out to staff members, like Ms. Rivera and Ms. Long, who have gone above and beyond in fostering inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students in their classrooms at Fort Hamilton.
“I know that hearing the experiences from my friends, being openly queer in this school can be very difficult,” said Kaschei. “So it’s nice to see staff create and coordinate an event like Pridefest.”
Mx. Crimmins hopes that events like Pridefest will not only celebrate queer students at Fort Hamilton and remind them that there is a safe space for them, but will also strengthen community bonds among members of Fort’s student body and staff.
“Being an LGBTQ+ person is a gift, and being an ally is the coolest,” Mx. Crimmins said. “Together, we’re all stronger in community with one another.”
