The annual celebration was already muted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and the murder of George Floyd set the stage for a re-examination of the relationships between LGBTQ activists and law enforcement.Īgainst this backdrop, last weekend NYC Pride announced that it has banned the New York City Police Department from participating in its Pride Month events.
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The confluence of the LGBTQ rights movement and Black Lives Matter came into full force after the murder of George Floyd by an on-duty police officer almost one year ago on May 25, just days before the launch of 2020 Pride Month festivities. NYC Pride takes a stand on police violence The fragility of gains in equal rights for both LGBTQ persons and Blacks in America was underscored by the tenure of former President and accused insurrectionist Donald Trump, who wrapped his political identity around erasing the identity of transgender persons and coddling white supremacists. Johnson and other Black transgender women who were instrumental in the pushback against police violence in the late 20th century, most famously during the 1969 police raid of the Stonewall bar in New York City.ĭespite the legalization of gay marriage and other significant milestones of progress, the twin narratives of transgender rights and race-based law enforcement have continued to play out in many forms, including “walking while trans” laws that have been deployed to target transgender women of color. The birth of the modern LGBTQ equality movement has been credited to Marsha P. The convergence of LGBTQ rights and Black Lives Matter
That creates new challenges - and opportunities - for corporations seeking to establish an inclusive brand as a Pride Month supporter.
The energy of Black Lives Matter activism has sparked a renewal of the original LGBTQ protest spirit.
After years in which annual LGBTQ Pride events have promoted a festive, celebratory atmosphere, it can be difficult to recall that the pride movement is rooted in street protests against police brutality.