In June of every year, Pride Month – a celebration of visibility, equality, connection, and self-affirmation – is celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community across the country and around the world. This year, as the Black Lives Matter movement grows, it is important to remember that the first Pride was held in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots. These riots, led by trans women of color fighting against police brutality and oppression, were the catalyst for the rights our LGBTQ+ community has today.
As we continue to protect ourselves and our community from coronavirus, we know that a quarantined Pride will look different than past Prides. Though parades have been canceled, the celebrations have not, and Balanced You encourages you to take this time to intentionally live into the spirt of Pride by connecting safely, uniting virtually, and amplifying the queer Black and Brown voices who pave the way for equal rights.
Pride 2020 marks the 50th year of Pride celebrations. In the face of the pandemic, organizers throughout Seattle and the world have come together to develop virtual Pride events. A few are listed below.
Pride 2020 Virtual Events
Seattle Pride is offering a wide array of virtual Pride events throughout the month of June. These events include:
- Drag performances,
- A film festival of queer Arab shorts,
- Musical performances,
- Book clubs,
- Individual walk/runs,
- Worship experiences,
- Conversation series,
- Youth prom, and more.
Seattle Pride events are being held throughout the month of June. Visit the Seattle Pride website for more information. You can also find a list of resources for LGBTQ+ community members.
Global Pride is the product of Pride organizers across the world coming together to organize a world-wide celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. More than 500 Pride organizations submitted more than 1,000 pieces of content for Global Pride, and a volunteer production team is turning these contributions into a 24-hour stream of music, performances, and speeches.
Global Pride will be held on June 27, 2020. Visit the Global Pride website for more information.
For a list of anti-racism resources for white allies, visit this Balanced You blogpost. For a brief history of Seattle Pride, visit King County’s Metro Matters blog.
If you have questions, suggestions, or would like more information, contact balancedyou@kingcounty.gov.
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