Community Calls: Black Pride and Liberation Day

This year, we are seeing more events that are in support of Black Lives Matter, connecting the LGBTQ community and BLM. Standing in solidarity, there are ways to get involved, with just a couple listed below.

Black Pride

An important event in the celebration of heritage and history is finally coming to Denver. Black Pride will take place for the first time this June. 

As many know, and many have still yet to learn, Pride celebrations were created and continue to be used as acts of resistance. They were created to celebrate who we are, and with Black Pride in Colorado, the mission is the same: to celebrate, empower, and uplift those who have for so long, felt as if they have not been seen.

This year, Black Pride celebrations will run for four days, beginning on June 17 and ending on the 20. Each of these events is shaping up to be quite the grand affair, and with the support of the community, they will be. 

Visit blackpridedenver.com for info on the upcoming events, and remember to celebrate yourself this Pride season!

Liberation Day: Pride is Still a Protest

The first Pride was a protest, and according to the organizers of Liberation Day, it still should be. 

“Community means being there for each other in the good and the bad, and Liberation Day is about self liberation, community liberation, and minority liberation,” says event founder Terra Caballero “That’s an aspect we can’t just forget just because some things, like gay marriage and rights for some people have progressed. That doesn’t mean that everyone can have the rights or can be as free as we are, and we need to remember where we come from.” 

“I wanted to have intersectionality, basically with the Black Lives Matter rally last year and all this political stuff coming together, it felt right,” says founder Kia Fathi. “Pride has always been a riot; Pride has always been a political movement. It’s time to go back to that. It’s fine to celebrate and have a good time, but we need to recognize where we come from.” 

The event will be broken into two parts. The first half of the day will be a celebration of diversity with music, games, and performances, as well as food from minority-owned food trucks. This part of the day will also feature a march from Cheesman Park to the Civic Center to continue the event.

The second half of the day will feature speakers from direct action organizations, as well as political speakers, and there will be a vigil for the queer and BIPOC lives lost to violence over the past year. 

Community Liberation Day 

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Big Gay Field Day, Music, and Performances

1-2 p.m.: Community Speakers

2-3 p.m: Liberation March, Cheesman Park to Civic Center Park 

3:30- 6:00 p.m.: Liberation Rally

3:30-4:45 p.m.: Speakers

4:45-5 p.m.: Candlelight Vigil

5-6 p.m.: Political Performances