Pittsfield and North Adams become LGBTQ+ Sanctuaries, Support from Local Orgs Grows
Local organizations and governments have come out in force since Trump's election.
In recent months, a growing number of Berkshire County organizations and municipal groups have intensified their efforts to support LGBTQ+ rights by providing grant funding, enacting policy changes, and vocally advocating against federal directives intended to diminish the rights of Americans with nonbinary gender identities.
In just the past few weeks, Pittsfield and North Adams officially designated themselves as sanctuary cities for LGBTQ+ individuals. Pittsfield passed the resolution, which puts the city in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, on March 12, and the North Adams City Council passed the measure by a vote of six to three on March 25.
This support has taken on new urgency following a bomb threat at a Drag Story Hour event on March 22. Stakeholders say the threat has galvanized rather than deterred community action.
Institutional Support and Growing Investment
This significant increase in institutional backing for LGBTQ+ initiatives began immediately after the inauguration of President Trump. Organizations that do not traditionally align with partisan politics—such as the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Mass Audubon, and 1Berkshire—have expanded their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) funding.
Bart Church, executive director of Q-MoB, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, says he’s touched by this growing public support: “Berkshire County has been coming together and collaborating in really substantive ways that I’ve never seen. We’re seeing it in the arts, in recreation, and now in business.” He notes that institutions like the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission have proactively allocated new funds. “They came to us and said, ‘We really want to increase our DEI efforts, and we’re going to give you $10,000,’” Church says.
This new funding is already being put to use in support of new programming, including an LGBTQ+ pride art exhibit at the Beckett Arts Center and an eight-part “Pride Hikes, Bikes, and Paddles” series funded through a collaboration between Mass Audubon, the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and the Housatonic Valley Association.
Seeing Rainbows, a trans-led nonprofit based in the Berkshires that is approaching its one-year anniversary, has also seen a surge in financial support. Since the beginning of 2025, the organization has received grants from the Feigenbaum Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Additional funding has come from the Action for Transformation Fund at Emergent Fund and the Borealis Fund’s Fund for Trans Generations. These grants, along with contributions from the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation and Berkshire United Way, have increased the organization’s institutional funding nearly fivefold compared to its inaugural year.
“It’s helpful to see that others recognize the importance of the work we’re doing,” says Cypress Gallagher, co-founding director of Seeing Rainbows. “This outpouring of support shows everyone how committed we are to rising up and growing our community.”
An Attempt at Intimidation Bombs
On March 22, a bomb threat was called into a drag story hour for adults at Wander Berkshires, an LGBTQ+ cultural space in Pittsfield. Law enforcement, including the Massachusetts State Police and local authorities, responded swiftly. No explosives were found, but the event was temporarily halted.
Rather than instilling fear, the incident reinforced the county’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. “These attacks are meant to intimidate, but they have the opposite effect here,” Church says. “They just make people more determined to stand up.”
Jay Santangelo, owner of Wander, says people have been stopping in to offer words of affirmation and support. “As a marginalized and targeted community, we always feel a certain sense of risk,” they say. “But everyone has been really supportive, and we feel lucky to exist in a place that has our back.”
Pittsfield and North Adams Become DEI Sanctuary Cities
Pittsfield’s move designating itself a sanctuary city for transgender and nonbinary individuals, led by At-Large City Council Member Alisa Costa, seeks to ensure that Pittsfield remains a welcoming place for gender-diverse individuals in direct opposition to new federal mandates about the removal of DEI programming from municipal services.
“This isn’t just about symbolic gestures,” Church says. “The city is actively working to make sure that health care, housing, and business opportunities are accessible and inclusive.” The resolution passed unanimously, despite concerns that it could lead to financial retaliation from the federal government.
“Pittsfield is putting a bullseye on itself,” Church acknowledges. “But they’re willing to take that risk because they believe in this.”
At the North Adams vote Tuesday evening, the city council heard personal testimonies from residents and allies, many of whom shared experiences of seeking safety and acceptance in the city. While some community members opposed the resolution, suggesting it be put to a broader public vote, proponents argue that the city has a duty to protect its most vulnerable residents. Councilor Ashley Shade, who is transgender, remarked, "This is not about special rights. This is about equality. It is about protecting the most marginalized and vulnerable people in our community."
LGBTQ+ Business and Networking Initiatives
In addition to advocacy efforts, Berkshire County has seen a rise in LGBTQ+ business networking events. Q-MoB, in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, has launched a monthly event series aimed at connecting professionals and entrepreneurs.
An April 16 gathering at Brazzucas Market in Pittsfield will feature discussions on the economic impact of DEI efforts. Costa, along with Kevin Pink, deputy director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire, and Alexandria Eberhardt, executive director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, will speak about how diversity initiatives contribute to business growth and innovation.
Meanwhile, Seeing Rainbows continues to expand its arts and community engagement programs, offering zine-making workshops, trans art salons, and mutual aid initiatives across the Berkshires. The organization’s Trans Day of Visibility event, scheduled for March 29 at WANDER Berkshires, will include performances and community discussions under the theme, “We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re Not Going Anywhere.”
Despite challenges, Berkshire County’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies are moving forward with increased visibility and determination. “People are saying, ‘We have to show up, and we have to stand up,’” Church says.
