June 19, or Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 when Black people in Texas finally learned of their own freedom, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. “The reason we had to do Black Pride is because Juneteenth doesn’t necessarily want to incorporate or make space for us,” says jae. Black Prides have become essential, according to the CBE website, because “attending events and seeing people who look like oneself with many of the same shared experiences contributes to building stronger, healthier LGBT communities, and is an effective way to combat homophobia and stigma in the Black community and racism in the greater LGBT community.”Īlong with drag performer/activist Tyrell Rae (known as Miss Zarah in drag), jae founded Black Pride Colorado because of a growing frustration with the way Black queer people have historically been excluded from both Juneteenth and Pride celebrations. Today there are at least thirty Black Pride celebrations around the world every year, all united under the Center of Black Equity. But for the founders of Black Pride Colorado, the incident underscored why they’d created the organization in the first place.Įboni Boneé Coleman of EB PIXS The first Black Pride event was held in Washington, D.C., on May 25, 1991, as a way to gather the Black queer community for Memorial Day festivities and also HIV/AIDS education the movement grew from there. “It’s in those moments where it’s like, ‘Oh, you think you just have the right to come in here and take over, because that’s what you are taught, and that’s also what society enables.’ Well, not in this space.”įortunately, the Denver Dyke March was on hand to provide security, and members quickly escorted the man out over his protests. “He doesn’t give a fuck what the event is, he’s just going to come in and start eating our food and drinking our drinks. tara jae, a psychotherapist and co-founder of Black Pride Colorado. “This white older gentleman came in, because he was at the Botanic Gardens - and because he’s a white older gentleman, he’s just going to come in,” recalls Dr. All four official Black Pride Colorado events - the gala, a Black drag showcase, a gospel brunch and a happy hour at the Museum of Contemporary Art - had sold out organizers had even added a second round of tickets for the gala, which honored the work of Black community activists such as Nikki Swarn of 104.7/The Drop 303.īut suddenly, the gala was interrupted by an intruder who waltzed past registration and started to help himself to the open bar. ![]() Attendees, decked out in black-tie attire, rejoiced in the culmination of the young group’s efforts to create an inclusive and safe space where queer and trans people of color could truly celebrate their full selves. The highlight of the inaugural Black Pride Colorado festivities last June was the Strange Fruit of Black Excellence Gala at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
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