Is Pride 2020 even happening?
Covid-19 concerns caused the cancellation of nearly 300 Pride celebrations around the world, but organizers were quick to rally. “Can’t Cancel Pride” will happen on June 25, 2020, featuring artists, advocates and allies and Global Pride 2020, a united, worldwide effort, takes place on June 27, 2020, the 51 anniversary of Stonewall.
No, it won’t be parades and floats and millions in the streets this year – but Pride organizers felt it important to maintain the visibility that the yearly celebration brings, especially for those who might attend the event as their first Pride, and to keep the history and the vision of Pride alive. The intersection of the effects of Covid-19, the Black Lives Matter movement and Pride means that this year’s Pride celebration is going to be especially powerful in some very important ways.
How are Pride and Black Live Matter connected?
June 27th, 1969, marks the date of Stonewall, when, tired of harassment and demanding civil rights, New York City’s LGBT community rose up and began to protest (many of the activists then were LGBT people of color, including Sylvia Rivera, a trans woman who was said to have sparked what became known as the Stonewall Riots).
As Black Lives Matter protests began anew this spring, many Pride organizers publicly addressed the importance of support and alliance with the Black Lives Matter movement in the causes of equality and justice. Here’s a great read on the deep connections between these movements, which have inspired marches like Philly’s Queer March for Black Lives and Los Angeles’ All Black Lives Matter protest.
Can’t Cancel Pride streams live on June 25, 2020 beginning at 6pm PST, and Global Pride 2020 streams on June 27, 2020 – find your start time here.
Love is love. Black lives matter. Happy Pride 2020!
* Photo/art by Sharon McCutcheon, LGTBQIA+ artist and photographer who shares her work via various stock photo services. You can see more of her work here.