An Open Letter to Pride Organizers
Pride month is just around the corner, so this letter is for anyone who is organizing any type of event surrounding pride – whether that is a parade, festival, community gathering, rally, flag-raising, or any other type of event we often see throughout June and beyond.
This past year has been really difficult. Last fall, we saw one of the largest anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rallies take place across the country. Pride flags and symbols continue to be placed under attack, trans-exclusionary radical feminists continue to fight against trans inclusion and rights, and violence continues to target and impact our community.
As a result, we have been able to truly see who our actual allies are. And no, I’m not talking about the people who purport to be allies, but aren’t willing to stand up for us when the time comes. I’m talking about people who are active advocates, allies, and accomplices.
Thus, you as pride organizers have a critical role to play in deciding who gets recognized at pride this year and into the future. Far too often, many pride events have catered to politicians, corporations, churches – even at the expense (sometimes literally) of queer people. Parades are led by so-called “allies” while queer people are relegated to the sidelines. Queer entrepreneurs are unable to set up booths at festivals because the costs are too high, meanwhile large corporations can tout themselves as “affirming”.
It’s time for that to change. Pride started as an uprising against oppression. The primary focus of Pride should be queer people and the queer community – not whoever has the most money, or those who only want to be there when it’s fun, but refuse to show up when it’s time to protest.
Now, I’m not suggesting a blanket ban on all politicians, corporations, and churches, unless in some instances where they have committed genuine harm. For example, many Saskatchewan Pride organizations (SERIOUS KUDOS) have banned the Saskatchewan Party (which has recently implemented harmful anti-2SLGBTQ legislation) from Pride. This is a different situation, and pride organizers must make the necessary decisions to preserve the safety of attendees.
I am talking about more generally who should participate at Pride. I am suggesting that you implement strict criteria about who will be allowed to show up – essentially, making it so that non-queer individuals and organizations have to “earn” their way to Pride, same as they should be “earning” their title as an ally. This could be done in numerous ways, such as sending out a questionnaire to vet politicians, corporations, and churches who want to participate. Here are some sample questions:
Politicians
Note: this can be applied for federal, provincial, and municipal representatives.
If you are part of a political party (e.g. Green, Liberal, NDP), what is your political party’s stance on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, inclusion, and equity?
Have you (as an individual and/or political party) been involved in pushing forward or supporting any motions relating to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, inclusion, and equity?
What are you doing to actively protect 2SLGBTQIA+ rights?
What have you done to respond to instances of hate and violence directed towards 2SLGBTQIA+ folks?
Have you advocated for funding specific for 2SLGBTQIA+ programs?
What have you done for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the past year?
What do you commit to doing for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the future?
Corporations/Businesses/Organizations
Note: this can be applied to both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Does your organization have any policies relating to queer and trans inclusion?
What does your organization do to support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals (as workers, clients, etc)?
Have you made efforts to be queer and trans inclusive at your organization (e.g. gender neutral washrooms, presence of pride flags/symbols, provided training for staff about 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion)?
Do you have any programs or services specific for 2SLGBTQIA+ people at your organization?
If you are planning to sell products, where do the proceeds go?
What have you done for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the past year?
What do you commit to doing for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the future?
Churches
Note: I have personally kept it to churches as this is my area of expertise, but many of these questions could also be applied to other religions and faith groups.
If you are part of a denomination (e.g. Anglican, United), what is your denomination’s stance on equal marriage? On transgender inclusion?
Can queer people get married at your church?
Can transgender people have some type of service or ceremony to recognize their process of transition/gender affirmation at your church?
Have you made efforts to be queer and trans inclusive at your church (e.g. gender neutral washrooms, presence of pride flags/symbols, provided training for church members/leaders about 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion)?
Do you have any ministries or programs specific for 2SLGBTQIA+ people at your church?
What have you done for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the past year?
What do you commit to doing for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the future?
I provide these as sample criteria and questions that you could use to vet who will be participating in pride. These can obviously be expanded, adjusted, and changed for each individual area and your local context – this is simply a starting point to help open this conversation.
Fundamentally, Pride should be – first and foremost – about queer people. Queer people should be the ones leading parades. Queer entrepreneurs should be the people most prioritized for vendor festivals, and if there is additional room, then looking to other interested individuals/organizations. Queer people should be the ones speaking and performing at events. Pride is about queer people – it is not about politicians, or corporations, or churches – it should be BY and FOR queer people, with everyone else having to earn their place, to prove that they are (and will continue to be) allies.
Don’t forget – Pride is a protest.
