Black Gay Pride: Does Green Know the Difference Between Black and White?

[Laughing Mirror]

by Jasmyne Cannick

The Miami Herald recently ran an article entitled "Gay Pride Celebrations: the Nation’s Top 10 Festivals are Diverse and Delightful.” Unfortunately there was nothing diverse or delightful in its choices. Topping the list of most festive gay pride celebrations were New York City, San Francisco and Long Beach, California. However, their equally popular and festive counterparts were nowhere to be found on the list.

As Black gay pride organizers scramble to provide comprehensive cultural celebrations for their thousands of anticipated guests this year, the Herald's top ten list was a slap in the face and further feeds into the notion that gay and now gay pride is white.

The International Federation of Black Prides is home to 25 Black gay pride celebrations, including Toronto and South Africa. These cultural celebrations are flocked to each year by thousands of Black same-gender loving persons are all over the country, some with a cult following. The three largest and highly attended celebrations include D.C. Black Pride celebrating 15 years Memorial Day weekend, At the Beach Los Angeles Black Pride celebrating 17 years Independence Day weekend and Atlanta Black Pride celebrating 9 years Labor Day weekend.

These celebrations each typically bring in around 10,000 people that are culturally diverse, socially active, event loyal, frequent travelers and beauty, health, fitness and fashion conscious. Given all of these facts, why then do Black prides still receive less financial support than their white counterparts?

http://www.blackcommentator.com/140/140_black_gay_pride.html

[booley]

1. why do we have a Black pride?

I think that may be the problem. Few people can answer that question.
While there is racism present inthe gay community (just like society in general) I think it's silly to say that gay pride is becoming White becuase Black pride isn't gettign as much support. especially when it was Black pride organizers that decided that they needed a separate event for Black people.

When I go to Pride in St. Louis, it's not White pride, it's GAY PRIDE and if you're gay, that includes you. So I think when people start talking about Black pride, they don't understand that it even is a separate event. especially when the peopel who go to one go to the other...

Nor do I necessarily buy that Black prides are more diverse then regular prides. At the St. Louis pride we have organizations for Hispanic . Asian and Black gays. So how is Black pride more diverse? especially when Hispanics and Asian-Americans aren't Black? What about white gays? Isn't definign yourself by race actually creating a less diverse atmosphere since not everyone belongs to the same race? Reading the article , I didn't read anything that isn't also at the regular pride events.

The only explanation that anybody has given me (one of the organizers of Black pride in St. Louis AND the Secretary of the St. Louis Pride org) is that the regular pride doesn't include all the stuff they like..like the music and such. That's fine. Pride, any Pride, is essentially a big party and if you don't like the atmosphere, you should go have your own party.

But that's not the same as racism.

Black Pride organizers need to explain why we need an alternate pride event. Not just accuse people of being racists whether they are or not.