BLACK PRIDE 2021
As the annual Pride season approaches for the summer, the state of these annual community building extravaganzas remains in flux. Last year saw many of the Pride events and activities cancelled, or transitioned to virtual platforms. Given the tenuous state of COVID throughout the county, the annual Pride season promises to be different – to say the least. We had a chance to chat, virtually with a few of the Black Pride organizers around the country to gather their thoughts.
The roundtable participants included the following:
– DC Black Pride (DCBP); Washington, DC – Kenya Hutton
– Hotter Than July – Detroit, MI (HTJ) – Curtis Lipscomb, Jerron Totten, Anthony Martinez
– Pacific Northwest Black Pride – Seattle, WA (PNBP) – Steven Sawyer, Autry Bell
– Chicago Windy City Black LGBT-SGL Pride – Chicago, IL (CWCBP) – Charles Nelson
Please note that this is just a snippet from what turned out to be an exhilarating conversation. My advance gratitude to these amazing individuals for their wisdom and commitment to our community. Please enjoy!
SWERV: Tell me your plans for 2021. Are you looking to host your event virtually or physically?
Jerron (HTJ):
Hotter Than July will again this year be virtual as we attempt to decrease COVID infections. A Very-Hotter-Than-July continues in the 26th year. We will start as we have over our 26 year history with a candlelight visual. Then transition to an art show highlighting Black queer artist in the southeast Michigan area. We will close out Friday with our announcement of political candidates who we plan to endorse. Saturday, our annual flagship event, the Palmer Park Picnic will include a community showcase, featuring Davon Fleming from the Voice.
Autrey Bell (PNBP):
We are going to do a hybrid model, moving the date from August to October just to see if the virus comes back then we’ll be able to adjust. We chose the hybrid because of the CDC and government limitations in Washington.
Charles (CWCBP):
We are doing virtual, only because the virus is still around. Pride starts at the end of June and runs through July. Other events scheduled at the end of July in Chicago are being planned virtually, so everything will be virtual this year.
Kenya (DCBP):
Last year, we decided to cancel and host it virtually. In February, we announced 12 Months of Pride. So, we wanted to spread out all that we would normally do over Memorial Day Weekend throughout the year. We are contemplating some sort of hybrid this year as things tend to open up in DC. Right now, everything is pretty much being planned virtually.
SWERV: How have your virtual events been received thus far, and what are you expecting this year?
Jerron (HTJ):
For over a year now, we’ve taken all of our [LGBT Detroit] programming virtual, and we’ve seen a lot of success. Some programs have gone from being regional to international, as we have viewers from other states and other countries. Last year, we had about 2,000 viewers for each day.
Anthony (HTJ):
Based on the performance of our Cold As Hell event in the Winter, which had around 4,000 to 5,000 thousand hits routinely. I would think our viewership would be much higher than last year for Hotter Than July.
Kenya (DCBP):
We are planning to do the comedy show and awards ceremony virtually. We do have a virtual Ball planned, but we may actually host it safely outside in a park since people are still planning to come to DC for that weekend.
SWERV: What does your virtual model look like this year?
Steven (PNBP):
Some of our classes will be virtual. We will also be doing virtual and in-person entertainment. We’re a small Pride, and we are also new. This is only our third year. We tried to pivot to a virtual event last year and ended up not being able to do it. Instead we supported other local events. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we don’t have a great sense of community. So, Pride is one of those things that brings us community. So, we feel a hybrid is the best way to do that.
Charles (CWCBP):
Last year, the three virtual events we did were successful, so we are going to make it even larger this year.
SWERV: While you folks are planning to go virtual, the party promoters in your towns are planning physical events that appear to be linked to your Pride. What are your thoughts about that?
Charles (CWCBP):
Here in Chicago, I have tried for decades to work with the promoters, and it’s a struggle. There is one particular promoter planning a live event that I intend to support, permitted that he has certain safety parameters in place. For anyone coming to Chicago for Pride, if it’s not something that is not part of Windy City Black Pride then it’s not considered one of our official events.
Curtis (HTJ):
That has been a multi-year struggle, working with those for-profit arms within the celebration. To organize around what I call ‘happiness.’ It’s this time where people expect visitors to come from all across the country, so promoters organize with or without the sanction of Hotter-Than-July. It’s no secret, …. I am not an advocate of that.
Steven (PNBP):
We are a little different in that we don’t have a lot of outside promoters planning events. Those that do tend to work with us. For us, Pride is always about the health messaging first because that’s where our funding comes from, but the turn up happens. So, at the end of the day we try to [exert] influence so that it’s safe. Especially if the events are associated with our name. This year, we will be offering COVID testing in addition to our usual HIV testing.
Kenya (DCBP):
Many of our official promoter partners are still contemplating events given the local restrictions.
SWERV: What are your themes this year given this moment in time regarding the pandemic and social justice?
Kenya (DCBP):
Our theme this year is 12 Months of Pride. All of our attention was connected to social just last year given the George Floyd incident. We participated in protest, wrote letters, gave out water to protesters, etc…. This year, we are encouraging folks to remain active and involved in the movement.
Steven and Autry (PNBP):
Our Pride is centering around social justice, our theme this year is Stronger Together, Fighting Anti-Blackness, Centering Black LGBTQ+ Lives. Particularly this year, we are going to be highlighting Black LGBT historical leaders in the movement. We are going to do 30 days of leadership, highlighting a leader each day throughout the month of October. We will also do a picture gallery with highlights in the news, and an awards ceremony.
Charles (CWCBP):
We are still negotiating our theme for this year, but it will also be something around social justice.
Jerron (HTJ):
This year, the theme is A Very Hotter Than July. It’s been my understanding that Hotter Than July is social justice in action. Every component of our programing contributes to the wellbeing of Black queer people. Everything we do has a social justice element to it. We are one of probably two, Black gay, 501 (c )(4) organizations who are able to say to candidates, ‘You have to prove to us that you have our best interest at heart.’
Anthony (HTJ):
I just echo Curtis’ thoughts about the theme – it’s EXTRA. Nails, eyelashes, kings, …. Everybody showing out.
SWERV: Are Black Prides still relevant to build community for Black LGBT people?
Autry (PNBP):
Yes, they are relevant. We have an event where we bring the older and younger generations together for a dinner to sit and talk. We also do a card party for the Sages early in the day. We try to have something for everyone.
Charles (CWCBP):
Yes, it [Pride] always has built community here in Chicago. With all that we’ve gone through over the past year, people are hungry for some sort of connection even if it’s virtual.
SWERV: What are your thoughts about partnering with the larger, mainstream Prides?
Jerron (HTJ):
There’s no financial barrier to participating in Hotter Than July. You don’t get that at the mainstream Pride events. Additionally, this is a space that is designed for Black people to express themselves as Black people. Plus, Black men are still leading the HIV infection rates in the state of Michigan, and the mainstream Pride is not addressing that issue.
Curtis (HTJ):
There’s always been an interest from the larger Pride for us to be there. But we recognize that you can get lost in the sauce. There has never been a question as to why Hotter Than July exists. I think there are limited opportunities to focus on community development, and HTJ promises that every year. It’s not about an us versus them. Hotter Than July exists because Detroit is still the Blackest city in America, percentage wise. So, it’s shameful not to consider the conditions of the people when organizing around freedom. BTW – I don’t use the term ‘white Prides’ because that denotes the Klan, so I call them ‘another experience.’
Steven (PNBP):
We’re [Black people] less than 4 percent of the general population in Washington state, but make up 16 percent of all diagnosis of HIV. When we look at Seattle, which is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, those areas that were predominately Black are being gentrified. We’re losing our space here and throughout the country. Now more than ever, Pride is that place where we can gather and be authentically Black and proud.
Charles (CWCBP):
Here in Chicago, the reason Black Pride formed is because we were never involved in the larger Chicago Pride. Our Pride is always in the area of our community, on the Southside of Chicago to bring the business into our community.
SWERV: Is funding a challenge for you?
Steven (PNBP):
As a newer Pride, funding is a challenge as we are still building. We raise about $50,000 every year to coordinate events. Today, our largest single donation is $10,000 from the Pride Foundation here in Seattle. I think its incumbent of them to give and support us. A lot of individuals give, and of course the pharmaceutical companies give as well.
Charles (CWCBP):
Money’s going to always be a struggle. I get some money from smaller, local organizations and the Commissioners office, and a lot of individual donations. Because all of our events are free, its not that expensive unless we bring in a celebrity for an appearance.
Curtis (HTJ):
There’s also something to be said about making sure that the people who invest in our event look like us. Yes, we have access to the typical sponsors [corporations, national organizations, etc..], but we look within so that our voices are strong so that we are not required to send a corporate message. HTJ couldn’t look like it does if its top funders were the same as the other experiences.
Jerron (HTJ):
Last year, we raised at least $20,000 more than the year before. We had a number of companies who wanted to ‘give to the cause’ at the expense of another man’s life [George Floyd]. My hope was that these sponsors would return, and their support not be a trend. We have found success with company’s like Jack Daniels, Dove, and Canadian Railroad. A lot of these companies are coming back, and we’re very proud of that. HTJ is not without local support. We were also fortunate to participate in Ford Motor Company’s LGBT Employee Resource Group (GLOBE) Black history month celebration. So, they are coming back as a sponsor this year as well.
Curtis (HTJ):
It would be great if we could create a united front of Prides to lobby companies like Ford Motor Company for support. This is not a unique strategy. I don’t want a $1,000 check from these large, national organizations; and I’ve checked them in the past. I don’t feel harm in making folks feel bad to support our interest. We have more than enough capital and creativity to fund our interest, and make our own expressions. I just need a combined effort so that when I roll up to Ford, my boys in Chicago, Miami, and Houston are with me. This is what Black Power looks like. I’m having a moment!
Kenya (DCBP):
Last year, we received a lot of what I would call ‘guilt money.’ They weren’t giving us money because they believed in the movement. They were giving the money because there was a pressure to support Black and Brown spaces. Many of the sponsors tend to support the larger, mainstream events due to the larger numbers. We are trying to leverage national support for sponsorship through the Center for Black Equity’s efforts.
SWERV: Black queer artists do not feel valued by the Black Prides. What are your thoughts on the matter?
Charles (CWCBP):
For decades, we’ve always gone after female mainstream entertainers because they tend to be more excepting of our community. I have always pushed to hire gay entertainers for our events. We’ve had the cast from Noah’s Arc, and others even though attendees claim they don’t recognize them. They [gay artists] seem to be very thankful to be invited.
Autry (PNBP):
Many of the gay artists are up and coming, and people didn’t recognize them since they’re not really nationally known. They just aren’t enough of a draw to bring in the crowds.
Steven (PNBP):
At the end of the day, I think it’s important to showcase our artist. We tend to feature artist from the local community.
Curtis (HTJ):
There’s been a pushback to spending thousands of dollars for mainstream artists to make these 15 minute appearances. We prefer to invest in supporting local influencers and entertainers.
Kenya (DCBP):
I understand the complaint. We have partnerships with our promoters to have local artists within our community included in their events. Our support is not always financial, but we do what we can.
SWERV: I can’t help notice that all of you are men. Is there diverse representation of the entire LGBTQ community in your leadership?
Curtis (HTJ):
I’ve very proud of our planning committee, lead by Jerron and Anthony. It’s very inclusive.
Jerron (HTJ):
Our committee is a space that is open to the community. There is no barrier to prevent anyone from the community to participate.
Charles (CWCBP):
We’ve always had a diverse organizing committee. Men, women, and both trans men and women as well participate. And I’m hoping this year is just as successful.
Kenya (DCBP):
Last year, we had a conversation with all the leaders of Black Prides. Little by little, we are seeing more non-cis men in leadership. There is a notion that Black Pride leadership is somewhat of a boys club.
Steven (PNBP):
Like many Prides, we are a bit male heavy. We do have some female and transgender representation. We do an open Pride, so we don’t have a formal board. The planning committee is formed every year by the community.
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Learn more about the numerous Black Pride’s through the Center for Black Equity at @CENTERFORBLACKEQUITY.ORG
