People’s Pride events set as alternative to PrideFest

Organizers say they feel neglected by Delta

LGBTQ groups unhappy with how the Delta Foundation has handled this weekend’s PrideFest will hold People’s Pride, an “alternative celebration” Saturday and Sunday.

The alternative gathering — which culminates in the People’s Pride March at 1:30 p.m. Sunday — has received support from more than 40 local LGBTQ and other organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union. The parade begins at 349 Crawford St., Hill District, and will end at Downtown’s Market Square.

Cairo Thomas, founder of SisTers PGH, a nonprofit that serves transgender and non-binary youth and adults, is spearheading People’s Pride. A black transgender woman, she and other activists say the Delta Foundation has failed to adequately serve or represent the needs of the whole LGBTQ community.

“What we hope from this march is that Delta wakes up and realizes they’ve neglected us for years,” she said. “If you really care about us, then help us. This march is still about pride and its celebration.”

Many also believe that Delta over the years has shifted spending, with more money on the annual PrideFest event and less on community support and awareness for all groups.

Delta responded with a prepared statement: “The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh has worked tirelessly to create a culture of inclusivity by building relationships with many individuals and organizations. Through passionate dialogue and activism we have cultivated lasting friendships, developed alliances, and fostered partnerships advancing our community forward in ways that we never thought possible.”

Activists also cited Delta’s decision to sell the naming rights of the parade this year to EQT Corp., an oil and natural gas production company, as a major misstep. Its Pride Parade this year — to be held at 12:30 p.m Sunday from the PPG Paints Arena to Liberty Avenue — was renamed EQT Equality March.

“Look at who is sponsoring the

parade,” Ms. Thomas said. “Those sponsorships are keeping us divided. The EQT is known for fracking. They’re polluting people’s water and land, and those who aren’t privileged are paying the price. I can’t support them taking that money.”

The Delta Foundation did not respond to the claims made against EQT.

The groups have complained for years about Delta’s allocation of funds.

According to its 990 financial statement for 2013, the nonprofit spent $205,388 on Pride events — a quarter of its $929,689 annual budget.

In the same year $544,542 was spent “to increase awareness and understanding of and improve the quality of life of [the region’s] GLBT community.”

Its 2014 financial report, the most recent one on file, showed that Delta more than doubled spending on Pride to $510,183, although its total budget decreased to $859,952 compared with the previous year. The same year, Delta spent $116,790 on efforts to increase awareness and understanding.

Sue Kerr, founder of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog, said she believes Delta has strayed from the original mission of when The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh organized Pride.

“Pride used to be a fundraiser for the community,” she said. “We would invest the money back into the community. Now Pride is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We don’t need a zipline. We need a pride that represents and serves the [LGBTQ] community.”

Samone Riddle, founder of Queer PGH, acknowledges that Delta serves the community in a limited capacity. The founder hopes that Delta will expand its services to include more of the community, especially black transgender women.

Ms. Thomas said the People’s Pride event is not a march against the EQT March.

“Right now, it’s a battle of the nonprofits. This fighting needs to stop. We have to start working together to serve the entire community beyond Pride”

For details on People’s Pride events, go to the Facebook page: People’s Pride March 2k17, Pittsburgh.