Posted on June 4, 2020
Ways to celebrate Pride during the pandemic from our allies
In the midst of a global pandemic and a nation reeling from the murder of George Floyd, this year’s regularly scheduled Pride events will feel a little different. Instead of city streets flooded with colorful flags and fun outfits, the big parades have been swapped for digital drag shows, and dance parties have moved to FaceTime and Zoom. (But at least you can still show off your vocal skills at Queerantine Queeraoke — yes, it’s real!).
These difficult times also give us a chance to digitally recognize the strength of the LGBTQ community and recognize how much further we have to go to reach full equality — right from home.
Our allies at the ACLU, Transgender Law Center and the Trevor Project have offered some resources to help you celebrate Pride and continue the fight for equality this month while staying safe and healthy.
From the ACLU: Honoring Aimee Stephens
The American Civil Liberties Union works to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people can live openly without discrimination and enjoy equal rights, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association. The ACLU brought its first LGBTQ rights case in 1936, and today, the organization brings more LGBTQ cases and advocacy initiatives than any other national organization.
This month, the ACLU is urging allies to raise awareness about three important LGBTQ cases before the Supreme Court, including the case of Aimee Stephens, who was fired from her job when she told her employer that she would be true to herself and come to work as the woman she is. The ACLU helped to bring Aimee’s case to the Supreme Court as the first transgender civil rights case before the high court.
More than anything, this is what we hope you'll listen to today: Aimee Stephens' fight for trans rights, the moment she realized how many people were behind her in this fight, and why we should never give up, in her own words. pic.twitter.com/iNxDtM37EP
— ACLU (@ACLU) May 12, 2020
From Transgender Law Center: TransAgenda for Liberation
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. This year during Pride Month, they are urging their supporters to remember the Black trans leadership that launched the LGBTQ movement in the first place. Black trans women and other trans women of color fought back against police brutality at Stonewall and continue to do so now.
In March, TLC and a coalition of Black and brown trans women, Indigenous folks, people who were incarcerated, disabled trans people, those living with HIV, elders, youth, and other members of our community launched the Trans Agenda for Liberation. The first pillar of our Trans Agenda for Liberation is Black Trans Women and Black Trans Femmes Living and Leading Fiercely. Read it here: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/black-trans-women-black-trans-femmes-leading-living-fiercely
The #TransAgenda is the community-led guide towards the world we all deserve. Towards a world that truly honors the lives of Nina Pop, Tony McDade, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black people who have been lost too soon. Pledge your support to the Trans Agenda here: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/trans-agenda-for-liberation
From the Trevor Project: “Pride Everywhere”
The Trevor Project Pride is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. For this year’s Pride celebrations, the organization launched its “Pride Everywhere” campaign, because as the Trevor Project rightfully puts it, “Pride isn’t just about parades, it’s about celebrating what makes our LGBTQ community thrive. No matter how challenging things may seem, this much is true: Pride isn’t going anywhere, because Pride is everywhere.”
Here are two ways you can participate:
- Create your own #PrideEverywhere photo to use on social media
- Visit the Trevor Project’s website
- Scroll halfway down the page
- Click on the link to create your own #PrideEverywhere photo
- Watch and share the Trevor Project’s “Pride Everywhere” video featuring Demi Lovato