First Church’s Rev. Rebecca Pugh Honored with Pride Award

BOSTON, MA — Rev. Dr. Rebecca Pugh, senior minister of the First Church of Ipswich, was honored at the State House on Wednesday, June 17, as a recipient of the inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award.

The milestone event, designed to recognize outstanding individuals within the state’s LGBTQ+ community, brought together leaders, advocates, and lawmakers under the historic golden dome for an afternoon of celebration and reflection.

The newly founded annual award, organized by the Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus, celebrates the accomplishments, diverse talents, and community contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across the commonwealth during Pride Month.

Pugh was among more than 110 community leaders from every corner of the state who were nominated by their respective state legislators for the honor. The inaugural class of honorees represented a sweeping breadth of professional achievement, including public servants, healthcare advocates, artists, authors, filmmakers, educators, and religious leaders.

Rep. Kristin Kassner nominated Pugh, describing her as a vital and unifying force within the local community.

“I was thrilled to nominate the Reverend Dr. Rebecca Pugh,” Kassner said. “Reverend Rebecca is a convener in the community, bringing so many together to celebrate each other, our earth, and the town.”

Kassner also highlighted Pugh’s tireless commitment to local advocacy, noting that environmental stewardship is always at the forefront of her mind. According to Kassner, the very first request Pugh made upon arriving at the State House for the ceremony was to ask Kassner’s office to co-sponsor critical legislative amendments aimed at protecting regional bird populations and horseshoe crabs within the state’s Environmental Bond Bill.

“Always thinking of others — even our feathery friends!” Kassner said.

Pugh brings a deep academic background to her decades of service, holding a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University, a master’s degree in divinity from Harvard University, and a doctorate in education from Lesley College.

She has channeled this expertise into more than 30 years of active ministry, focusing heavily on intergenerational community building.

Her local and international outreach work includes developing dedicated programming for seniors and children within her parish, providing direct aid and support to refugees, and actively promoting cross-cultural peace movements.

In addition to her spiritual and humanitarian leadership, Pugh connects with North Shore residents through her regular column in the Ipswich Local News, “Running With Birds.”

Her recurring feature is a unique multi-disciplinary narrative that has been described as part sport, part ornithology, part ethics, and part ecology, tailored specifically for local athletes who run alongside the region’s native bird species.

The State House ceremony took place inside a crowded House Chamber, where lawmakers and honorees gathered to mark what state officials called a historic step forward in formal recognition.

During the presentation, Pugh stood alongside her fellow recipients to receive a formal citation from the House of Representatives, signed by House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, as the chamber recognized the impact of the inaugural class.

Top state officials used the legislative milestone to reinforce Massachusetts’ long-standing reputation for civil rights and social justice. Gov. Maura Healey delivered remarks congratulating the recipients and emphasizing the state’s historical role as a birthplace for systemic change, from the American Revolution to the abolition movement, to women’s suffrage and LGBTQ+ equality.

“Today, we’re proud to be the state at the forefront of our nation’s freedoms and we will continue to ensure that Massachusetts remains a safe and welcoming place for all,” Healey said, expressing gratitude to the LGBTQ+ Caucus for cementing the legacy of the state’s trailblazers.

Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) echoed these sentiments, noting that formal celebrations of diversity are particularly vital during times when federal protections and individual dignity face strain across the United States.

“In Massachusetts, we will not only defend but celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends, neighbors, and loved ones,” Spilka said.

The Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus, which serves as an advocacy and policy network for queer lawmakers in the state, intends to host the Commonwealth Pride Awards as an annual milestone every June. The event will continue to shine a spotlight on local leaders like Pugh who work daily to make their communities more inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming.

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