“Watertown Welcomes All”: Pride Initiative Encourages Inclusive Business Spaces

WATERTOWN – Throughout June, World in Watertown collaborated with the Watertown Human Rights Commission to canvas local businesses in the city to put a small Pride flag in their window that reads, “Watertown Welcomes All.”

“We are hoping to create a space so that the queer residents of Watertown and employees of Watertown all feel safe to do their business with the business owners in Watertown,” says Xin Peng, World in Watertown Chair and Human Rights Commission member. 

Peng was inspired to do the Safe Space Project when he noticed he frequented businesses in Brookline and Cambridge due to their pro-LGBTQ signage, despite being a longtime Watertown resident. He hopes that this initiative will not only increase inclusivity and foster community, but will also boost support for local businesses. Peng emphasized that if residents experience discrimination based on queer identity in any business in Watertown, they can file it with the Human Rights Commission and get support from the city by filling out the complaint form on https://www.watertown-ma.gov/1195/Human-Rights-Commission.

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