POWER TO THE PEOPLE: WHY UK BLACK PRIDE MATTERS
What does Pride mean to you? In the LGBTQ+ community, the word has taken on the meaning of perseverance, defiance, love and power. But under all the various meanings the root of the word can be boiled down to liberation and acceptance. This multi-dimensional term has been embraced and used by the LGBTQ+ community for over 50 years. In 1970, queer activists Brenda Howard and L.Craig Schoonmaker brought the word to the forefront during the creation of the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade in NYC. Soon after, the implementation of “Pride” has spearheaded our journey and achievements as a community, both socially and legally. But for Black and Brown queer voices, the word stands for much more than sexual identity. Pride also relates to the loving embrace that ethnic minorities have for their various racial backgrounds. Even though the LGBTQ+ community has collectively embraced the word as a unifying symbol, the way we celebrate our queer Pride hasn’t always been equal.
The first Pride march in London took place in
