New London ― Kat Palmer and her girlfriend, Katherine Perez, meandered down the Ocean Beach Park boardwalk Saturday afternoon not far from a line of pastel rainbow flags fluttering in the sea breeze.

Though the Norwich couple had previously attended pride festivals in other parts of the state, this weekend marked their first attendance at OutCT’s Pride at the Beach festival, a raucous, joyful event featuring a techno soundtrack, free hugs and royal selfies.

“It feels like home, here with my people,” said Palmer, 22.

Providing that atmosphere of inclusion was a paramount aim of organizers, said OutCT President Chevelle Moss-Savage, a self-described queer lesbian who said the festival’s roots intertwine with the non-profit group’s birth 11 years ago.

“We were actually founded after a study was made to see if New London could support a pride festival,” said Moss-Savage, a licensed mental health counselor. “And since then, we’ve grown exponentially, both our group and the festival.”

The all-volunteer group’s mission of creating programming that celebrates and advocates for the local LGBTQ+ community was reflected in the day’s offerings, which included dance performances and games, along with booths providing health, employment and financial advice from Electric Boat, Hartford HealthCare and Pfizer.

On one end of the beach, the Connecticut chapter of the Free Mom Hugs group was providing embraces to anyone seeking a little human contact. Chapter leader Kathleen Wells said she discovered the non-profit on Facebook last year.

Wells said the group’s mission is a simple one: to give hugs to anyone who needs them, especially to those individuals who’ve been rejected by family members after coming out.

“I’ve had people trembling and crying, not wanting to let go,” Wells said. “One person said their mother won’t even say their name. And these aren’t just young people, but some in their 60s and 70s. It can be emotionally draining for us, but it helps them.”

The festival was part of a week-long stretch of New London Pride 2024 events hosted by OutCT that included a “queeroke” sing-along, a book club and bingo night.

Near the park entrance, members of the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut, which raises money for other non-profits through drag performances and other events, invited guests to don crowns, tiaras and other royal accouterments before posing with a selfie frame.

Several of the day’s guests spoke of their concerns over recent backlash against members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially their transgender brothers and sisters. Others voiced a sense of renewed hope in the last few weeks ignited by Vice President Kamala Harris’ move to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket.

“It seemed like a lot of rights, human rights, were up for grabs,” Moss-Savage said. “Until a couple of weeks ago, I was fearful and am now hopeful.”

Moss-Savage said the festival is designed to be a safe and nurturing space where all guests – whether long out or still struggling with publicly sharing their sexuality – are welcome.

“The pride movement started as a protest,” she said, referring to the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City started by a Black trans woman and credited with sparking the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. “Black and brown trans siblings said ‘enough is enough.’”

j.penney@theday.com