Global Pride event to unite groups after cancelled parades
After the cancellation of hundreds of Pride parades due to the Covid-19 pandemic, national Pride networks have set up a new digital Global Pride Day on June 27 to unite people all over the world in celebration and support.
The 24-hour stream of music, performances and speeches will feature politicians including US presidential hopeful Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and spotlight the challenges faced in some countries by LGBTI individuals.
More than 500 Pride organisations submitted more than 1,000 pieces of content to be streamed.
“A lot of people, especially young people, have had to go back maybe to their families who might not be supportive,” said Ramses Oliva, 24, a trans gay man who is an ambassador for the charity Just Like Us, which supports LGBTI young people.
“I think that Pride for a lot of us is going to be just this chance to breath and to ... remind ourselves of our identities and how important it is to keep celebrating them.”
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Natalie Thompson, a chair of the event, said it would also amplify black voices and the demand for racial justice.
“I think when people look at Pride who are not necessarily affiliated with it ... they see it as a big party. But behind the scenes, there’s so much work that’s being done to help push policies to help address human rights concerns.”
Among those to be featured is the Pride movement in Georgia in the Caucasus. —