BEVERLY — Mayor Mike Cahill and other officials are condemning a “deeply hurtful, offensive, indeed hateful” float in this year’s Beverly Farms Fourth of July Horribles Parade.
In a statement released on Friday, officials called on parade organizers to issue a public apology for the harm caused to Beverly, particularly to the trans and nonbinary community, and to permanently eliminate the “horribles” category of their parade.
“What happened at the Beverly Farms Parade is not fun, funny or just a joke; it is serious, dangerous, and must never happen again,” the statement said.
The statement was signed by Cahill, City Council President Julie Flowers; state Sen. Joan Lovely; Beverly Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Director Wangari Fahari; city councilors Hannah Bowen, Danielle Spang, Scott Houseman and Kathleen Feldman; School Committee members Rachael Abell, Kimberly Coelho and Lorinda Visnick; and the Beverly Human Rights Committee.
The float in question was called “A League of They Own” and mocked transgender athletes and transgender people in general. It included signs that read, “You can’t swim with me, unless you sit down to pee,” and “Are those just rumours, or our schools full of groomers?” as well as other vulgar signs.
The Beverly Farms Horribles Parade dates back to the 1880s and features floats, costumes and signs satirizing current events. Cahill and other city officials have denounced the parade in the past for its content, including racist and sexist material. Cahill did walk in the parade last year and this year after organizers promised to tone down or remove offensive floats.
Cahill and Lovely, who also participated in this year’s parade, have both said they did not see the offensive float and would not have walked in the parade if they had.
In the statement, officials said: “It is always unacceptable to ridicule and target people, but it is especially dangerous to do so during a time in society when that group is facing unprecedented threats of violence, hate, and discrimination as is the case with our trans and nonbinary community. In other moments in human history, the normalization of hateful messaging, harmful stereotypes, and targeted ridicule has led to dehumanization and horrific violence.
“Beverly’s trans and nonbinary community and visitors to our City must know that their elected officials will take meaningful action to ensure Beverly remains safe and welcoming,” the statement said.
Officials said they invite Beverly to “take accountability for maintaining a community of welcome and of safety where our trans friends can confidently be themselves without fear for their personal safety.”
Raeann Downey, the president of the Beverly Farms/Prides Crossing Fourth of July Committee, said after the parade that the float should not have been allowed. She said she did not see it until after the parade started, and that it was up to the five judges to look at the floats before the parade and decide if they could participate.