Beverly Farms Parade Offends Gloucester Mayor
A few teenagers in Beverly Farms decided to poke a little fun at the Gloucester teenagers who allegedly took part in a pregnancy pact in quite a public way–on parade.
The Horribles Parade in an affluent area north of Boston is supposed to poke fun and feature all things politically incorrect. But a float that spoofed the spike in teen pregnancies in a nearby city was too much for three parade judges.
The annual Fourth of July Horribles parade in Beverly Farms included a float with dancing girls with pillows stuffed under their shirts.
That offended Carolyn Kirk, mayor of Gloucester, a working class city 30 miles north of Boston that made headlines last month when a high school principal told Time magazine that some of the 17 students who became pregnant this school year had made a pact to do so.
Kirk and other school officials have denied the existence of a pact.
Kirk told the Boston Herald she won’t waste her time seeking an apology from Beverly Farms, but added: “It basically triggers a class war between this well-to-do enclave and a working-class city.”
I thought politicians were supposed to have a thick skin? The display also offended the delicate eyes of three parade judges.
“I get it, it’s a Horribles Parade, but it was overkill with the Gloucester pregnancies,” said judge Gail Townsend, who said she won’t be a judge again after being involved with the parade for about 40 years.
Beverly Mayor William Scanlon Jr. refused to get involved because the parade in the Beverly Farms part of town was not a city-sponsored event. “It’s a horrible story,” he said.
I give the Beverly Farms girls who mocked the Gloucester teenagers a lot of credit. Clearly, these girls realize that what the Gloucester teens did was irresponsible and, let’s face it, stupid. They should be applauded. It’s actually a relief that there are some girls that age that can look at what the Gloucester teens did and see it for what it really was.
Just because Beverly Farms is an “affluent area” north of Boston, and Gloucester is a “working-class city” doesn’t excuse a pregnancy pact. Where you live doesn’t change the definition of stupid. Working-class parents still have a responsbility to steer their children in the right direction, impart good morals and decision making.
While their method was unorthodox, the girls in Beverly Farms should be commended for their denunication of the pregnancy pact. I hope the pregnant teens in Gloucester feel ashamed of what they did, and I hope other teens around the Commonwealth think about what these girls did when they have huge life choices in front of them. Let’s also hope that parents start having some talks with their hormone crazed children–from the working-class to affluent.
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TAGS: Beverly Farms, Gloucester High School, Horribles Parada, pregnancy pact.
Aaron Margolis is a life long resident of the Bay State, and works at an architectural firm north of Boston. Aaron has a Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architectural College and is currently in the process of becoming of a Registered Architect.
Hey Aaron – not sure if you have seen the stats on teen pregnancy in Beverly over the years. Here you go in case you haven’t:
2000 Gloucester: 26 | Beverly: 22
2001 Gloucester: 17 | Beverly: 14
2002 Gloucester: 1 | Beverly: 14
2003 Beverly: 15 | Gloucester: 13
2004 Gloucester: 15 | Beverly: 11
2005 Beverly: 11 | Gloucester: 10
2006 Gloucester: 19 | Beverly: 6
Totals Gloucester: 118 | Beverly: 93
Would you care to re-phrase the word “stupid”.
Research before you speak!
while Julie makes a good point, she has failed to make the distinction both the original article and Aaron made.
These are girls in the so-called affluent area of Beverly Farms, not Beverly as a whole. Beverly Farms is the same affluent area where Kerry Healey comes from. Beverly Farms and Beverly are very different as far as class and I would venture say it is fair to compare to Beverly to Gloucester, but Beverly Farms, definitely different.
But, there is also one tally Julie forgot:
Teenage Pregnancy Pacts:
2008 Gloucester: 1 | Beverly: 0
that’s what i perceive is the point of all this. Teenage girls get accidentally pregnant. it happens, and it is stupid, but getting pregnant on purpose, that is waaay beyond stupid. When a group of Beverly Farms girls go in on a pregnancy pact, feel free to compare and point fingers and call whomever you want stupid.
Why is everyone so “offended”? That Gay Pride parade makes fun of all of us, they throw condoms and expose all sorts of things. I have yet to see so much press dedicated to soothing all of the people that might offend. Get a grip people!!!
Congradulations to the Beverly girls, its about time someone let these girls in Gloucester know what jerks they are, to consider it a game to get pregnant. The Mayor of Gloucester, dosn’t seem to have both oars in the water, for her to think this is a have or have not problem, she should be schocked at the girls in her town. Again these Beverly girls have it right. Liz, Connecticut
So Voodoo Daddy you are saying if you live in an affluent area you probably won’t have teenage pregnancies? Come on. Just for the record Beverly & Beverly Farms are the same zip code – some of those numbers reflect Beverly Farms as well. I also need to point out that in the investigation they found that the “pact” was made after they found out about being pregnant.. more of a support for each other.. but you will never hear any follow up like that in the news. Believe me I am outraged that 17 girls in one year are pregnant but it is a nationwide problem that continues to grow in ALL communities. What I found so shocking was the graphics the floats had. If I were there with my small children I would have been horrified. Shame on those that were in charge and let those floats roll out the door. A parade is a family event – they weren’t crapping over the 17 girls they were crapping on Gloucester as a whole. There are so many other Glou High girls & boys (we always forget about those boys.. takes two to make a baby) that are on the right track, that are making good decisions and are just as outraged at their classmates as everyone else.
I dont agree in what Beverly Farms did and all if it has to go on them that area of beverly needs to be blamed Not Beverly Yah we both have the same zip code but the farms think they are richier part of the city and dont like to have other that dont live in the farms on there turf they think they are all goodie two shoe’s just becaue they have money they dont give a dam what goes on downtown Beverly where alot of people struggle you would like beileve all the homeless people that i see down here that struggle to have a heathly meal i mean come on now i met a very close friend that was living in the local shelter and me and other friend took him in and help him get his life on track and i have to say he is doing very good now so please dont blame beverly it not the entire city’s fault blame the richie’s that like look down on the poor people that dont make good decision but hey we are only humans nobody perfect
I wasn’t trying to put any blame on Beverly my point was this article was throwing stones at Gloucester for teen pregnancies when Beverly/Beverly Farms in itself has the same issue.. Voodoo Daddy I think was saying that those numbers would exclude Beverly Farms when in fact it does not. Teens from Beverly Farms attend Beverly High.. if not then private (boy I would love to see those pregnancy numbers in those private schools but I don’t see that happening)… regardless the floats were vulgar… they were not rated “E” for everyone to view.. whether they were dumping on Glou or another city it wasn’t appropriate how they went about it… I actually blame their parents (but I’m sure the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree) and whoever was in charge of allowing those floats in to begin with. Any parent that attended that parade with small children that day should be outraged!
Moving on….