Statement on Capitol Hill Pride Actions

Illustration of words we stand with taking black pride and people holding trans flag
Pride is a month to celebrate who we are, acknowledge those who came before, and fight for freedom from social oppression. Gay City is outraged by the harmful behavior imposed on Taking B(l)ack Pride by the organizers of Capitol Hill Pride.

Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center stands in solidarity with the organizers (Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, Alphabet Alliance of Color, and Queer the Land) in creating space for the leadership, centering, and celebration of the contributions and experiences of Black Queer and Trans voices.

We recognize that LGBTQ communities face multiple and intersecting forms of structural oppression, and encourage Capitol Hill Pride to honor those truths and narratives.

We unequivocally denounce the actions of Capitol Hill Pride Festival Directors Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson’s efforts to weaponize the City of Seattle Human Rights Commission and the public to undermine the success of Taking B(l)ack Pride.

Therefore, we uplift and echo the demands that Capitol Hill Pride:

  1. Provide a public apology addressing the harm imposed upon Taking B(l)ack Pride organizers.
  2. Look within to understand why they’re centering themselves in a space, regardless of the community the space is intended for.

For us to reach collective liberation, it is critical that we uplift and support one another.

We encourage our community to support Taking B(l)ack Pride on June 26:

  • Venmo- @TWOCSolidarity-NW
  • Cash App-$TWOCSolidarityNW
  • PayPal-TWOCSolidarityNW

 

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