Springfield, MA – Helix Human Services staff and supporters gathered to raise the pride flag to honor the history, achievements, and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Today, as we raise the Pride flag, let it be a beacon of hope and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to inclusivity. Let it remind us of the courage and strength of those who came before us and those who continue to push for change. And let it inspire us to keep striving for a world where everyone can live openly and authentically” said Mark Paglia, CEO of Helix Human Services.
History of the Pride Flag
The first iteration of a pride flag debuted in 1978 at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade. Since then, there has been many versions with colors added to represent different populations. During this flag raising ceremony, we rose the Progress Pride Flag which has the added light blue, white, and pink stripes representing the Trans community. The black and brown stripes represent communities of color. In addition the black stripe also represents the thousands of lives lost to HIV/AIDS. Read more about the history of pride flags on the Human Rights Campaign website.
Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community
Helix Human Services has always supported marginalized populations. We opened the SHARP residential home in the late 1980s. Today, SHARP is one of three residential homes in the state of Massachusetts that serves the LGBTQIA+ population. We recognize there is an ever-growing need to expand these services. SHARP promotes the improvement of self-esteem, life skills, adult readiness skills, a sense of personal identity, emotional regulation skills, the development of healthy coping skills and interpersonal relationship strategies. Our goal is for our residents to leave our program with the skills necessary to find success within the community.
About Helix Human Services
Helix Human Services provides trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services to diverse children and families, building the foundation for lifelong success at home, school, and in the community. We do everything in our power to help traumatized children, families, and adults find their resilience and strength.