From the “black is beautiful” movement in the 1960s to New York’s Stonewall riots where young street kids, many of them black and Latino, fought to be seen, heard, and respected; Black Pride and Gay Pride have been evolving in this country on a similar trajectory. Black Pride and LGBT Pride developed from the rejection of that which America’s dominant culture has said is right, is beautiful, and is normal. Yet, for a queer person of color, the two prides can seem at odds. Black Pride celebrations started as a way to reconcile these two identities, providing a safe space for queer people of color to build community and find a sense of self.
“Black Prides allow people of color the chance to celebrate our culture and orientation without explanation,” says LaToya Hankins, of North Carolina’s Shades of Pride. Black Pride celebrations are not meant to divide or further ghettoize the LGBT community. Leaders and organizers of Black Prides around the country understand the gravity of being a minority within a minority community and the issues that surround this identity. “There is no question that everyone within the LGBT movement deserves to celebrate and gather for Pride festivities,” says Gabby Santos, who coordinates Albany’s Black and Latino Gay Pride. “But as LGBT people of color, we face some particularly difficult issues that require tailored Black Pride activities. We face myths of negative stereotypes, such as, we are more violent than others. We face realities such as racism within programs and the criminal system that leave people of color with fewer options, great obstacles to participate, and fewer protections. These myths and realities are painful. LGBT people of color who experience them need support from their peers who understand the impact.”
Even with Black Pride festivals increasing popularity (there are 33 domestic and seven international celebrations with hundreds of thousands attendees), the one problem that these Black Pride organizations face, as opposed to mainstream Prides, is gathering sponsorships. “Mainstream Pride is no longer about ‘affirming and increasing visibility for LGBT people’ yet more about leveraging the visibility of companies wanting access to the community for brand endorsement,” says Philadelphia Black Pride’s D. D’Ontace Keyes. While brands are eager to tap into the LGBT market, corporate America is a bit more hesitant when it comes to queer people of color.
The black queer identity has a unique perspective and a unique voice but also a unique set of problems. As this identity has evolved, so have the needs of the community. For years, marriage equality has been the cause célèbre of the LGBT public consciousness, but queer people of color face a myriad of other obstacles, from disparities in income and access to health care to racism within the LGBT community and racism as the great national pastime, not to mention higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and HIV infection. These factors not only disproportionately affect queer people of color but also take an unfair toll on the next generation. Black Pride addresses these needs because mainstream Pride either does not, cannot, or will not. Thus, what began as a concept has grown into a movement to save bodies, educate minds, and uplift the spirits of a marginalized population that is tired of being marginalized.
