As we celebrate Pride by honoring queer trailblazers, we want to especially uplift Black and Brown trans women and gender nonconforming people of color who led liberation movements nationwide. Out of the Stonewall Uprising came the very celebration of Pride we know today—and we have activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy to thank. Use these resources to center queer Black and Brown activists who fought back against police brutality and oppression while also teaching about the continued fight for justice.
As real people with real experiences who have shaped and will continue to shape U.S. culture and society, Black LGBTQ people are not political wedge issues. The insidious combination of racism and queerphobia can seriously affect the mental health of our LGBTQ youth of color, especially amid the political attacks on human rights through efforts to control bodily autonomy including reproductive rights and identity. Beyond celebrations of Pride Month and Juneteenth, we must all work to provide space for Black LGBTQ people.
It is imperative to provide inclusive education because, as GLSEN’s Executive Director, Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, emphasizes, “Accurate and inclusive lessons not only affirm LGBTQ+ students, but also give non-LGBTQ+ students clear information about the diverse world around them and help prepare all young people to navigate and contribute to a multicultural society.”