We are currently planning the 2026 Newton Pride - Celebration of Queer Culture - stay tuned for more details!

Scroll down to learn more about the event, its history, and past celebrations.

Click here for a list of resources compiled by the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.

What is Newton Pride - Celebration of Queer Culture (CQC)?

Newton Pride - Celebration of Queer Culture (CQC) is a free Pride event created to bring the Newton community (and beyond!) together to highlight and celebrate queer culture.

Coming up on its fourth year, Newton CQC offers educational activities and programming for all ages and interests. Past events have included Pride-centered art activities, queer history education, panel discussions highlighting the intersectionality of the queer community, queer art displays, queer family meetups, live performances, resource fairs, food, vendors, and queer joy!

Each year the City reaches out to the community, especially Newton's youth, for queer-identifying event performers, artists, resource tables and vendors. Keep your eye open for call outs!

Although CQC focuses on the queer community, all are welcome!

What does "queer" mean?
_{PFLAG (the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them) defines queer as:
A term used by some LGBTQ+ people to describe themselves and/or their community. Reclaimed from its earlier negative use--and valued by some for its defiance--the term is also considered by some to be inclusive of the entire community and by others who find it to be an appropriate term to describe their more fluid identities. Traditionally a negative or pejorative term for people who are LGBTQ+, some people within the community dislike the term. Due to its varying meanings, use this word only when self-identifying or quoting an individual who self-identifies as queer (i.e., “My cousin identifies as queer” or “My cousin is a queer person”).
Click here to visit PFLAG's glossary to learn more!}

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The History of CQC

Newton's first Celebration of Queer Culture (CQC) was created in 2023 by queer high schoolers Rhiannon Esposito and Julia Dun Rappaport. Growing up, Julia and Rhiannon constantly searched for representation, but saw themselves only as units in health class or stereotypical side characters on TV. So, as teens, they created CQC: a space for queer kids like their younger selves to feel seen, heard, and loved. The first event created this space by offering a panel discussion of young people, presentations about queer history, a resource fair with queer-centered organizations, and music, art, and performances by queer youth.

The event has since expanded to include an audience that crosses generations. Even so, Newton CQC continues to be a space where queer folks can be seen, heard and loved.

Newton CQC highlights the joyful, resilient, and fun aspects of queer culture to create an informative and welcoming safe space where queerness is not just tolerated, but celebrated.

_{Left image: Rhiannon (left) and Julia (right), Co-Founders of Newton CQC
Right image: Julia, Mayor Fuller, and Rhiannon (left to right) at the first CQC event in 2023}

Past Celebrations

The third annual Newton Pride - CQC 2025 event took place on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 11am - 4pm at the Hyde Community Center & Playground on 90 Lincoln St, Newton, MA.

Scroll down for more details about last year's event, including the schedule, and a list of vendors and organizations who joined the resource fair.

We can't wait to see you at Newton's Celebration of Queer Culture ‘26!

Click here for a list of resources compiled by the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.

Have questions? Can't find what you're looking for? Email cqc@newtonma.gov