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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
How Atlanta Can Celebrate Black Queer Pride in June
In cities around the country, June is the designated month to honor the LGBTQ+ experience. But Atlanta — considered widely to be the Black gay mecca — moves to its own beat. Up until 2007, Atlanta's annual celebration of queer identity and rights took place every June, a nod to the Stonewall Uprising in New York City. In 1969, a stretch of protests and riots in response to police discrimination and persecution of queer people helped propel America's gay liberation movement, inspiring former President Bill Clinton to designate June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month on Stonewall's 30-year anniversary. (Former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden broadened the designation to include bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex identities.) But the tradition changed in 2008, when the city of Atlanta temporarily prohibited large events at Piedmont Park due to a drought, causing organizers to postpone festivities until October, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The timing stuck. For the past 17 years, Atlanta Pride — anchored by a weeklong festival best known for its extravagant parade — has been centered in the early days of autumn, which is fitting for its proximity to National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11. But Pride celebrations in June may feel more crucial than ever this year due to rollbacks of LGBTQ+ freedoms across the country and in Georgia following President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January. Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that rejected gender ideology, proclaiming the United States government will only recognize two sexes: male and female. Subsequent executive orders prohibited people under age 19 from receiving youth gender-affirming care and banned transgender troops from serving in the military. In alignment with another Trump executive order, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last month a bill that restricted trans girls and women from participating in female sports. Cobb County school districts have continued to restrict literature that references queer experiences. Mary Wilson, executive director of the Trans Housing Coalition, describes the current spirit in queer communities as resilient as Pride Month begins amid political attacks at both the local and federal levels. 'There's still a bunch of parties, celebrations, fundraisers,' Wilson told Capital B Atlanta. 'For the most part, the spirit is still up, even if we are in the background trying to figure it out financially, or figure it out in other ways, or are feeling a little defeated. I feel like we're still showing up for each other.' While Atlanta's biggest Black Pride functions of the year are four months away, there are a plethora of ways to celebrate. Here's Capital B Atlanta's round up of events to commemorate Black queer culture as boldly as possible. Thrill seekers can hit Six Flags Over Georgia to celebrate the rainbow flag all month long with themed decor, Instagram-worthy photo setups, and LED light shows. Limited-edition Pride merch will also be available for purchase with 15% of the proceeds going to local organizations including Lost-n-Found Youth, which provides shelter and support for Atlanta's unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. When: June 1-30 Where: Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell Cost: $35 for a one-day ticket Audiophiles will enjoy this vinyl-only listening experience catering to Black queer Atlantans, with a music menu from DJ Candy Raine that includes soul, funk, jazz, R&B, and contemporary tracks. Expect a hearty helping of food, cocktails, mocktails, and, most importantly, vibes. When: Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m. to midnight Where: Echo Room, 705 Echo St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $5 This community town hall is billed as a safe space for Black queer and trans folks to get real about politics, housing justice, safety, health care, and other pressing issues and systemic injustices. It's somewhere to feel seen and heard. When: Wednesday, June 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Where: The Murph, 561 W. Whitehall St. SW, Atlanta Cost: $5 suggested donation Friend Zoned is a community-driven collective seeking to help Black queer and trans people forge platonic relationships. Their monthly event — a play on speed dating — seeks to connect like-minded individuals and form friendships. This one is specifically for the 40-50 set. It's sober friendly, too! When: Thursday, June 12, 7 to 9 p.m. Where: Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave. NE, Atlanta Cost: $5 requested donation Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus — whose performances are self-described as 'ranging from campy to earnest and everything in between' — will take the stage for two performances to support the Children's Museum of Atlanta's Pride initiatives. When: Sunday, June 15, at noon and 2 p.m. Where: Children's Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta Cost: $19.95 For a third straight year, ALT ATL presents a day party that amplifies Black and queer pride. Bring your dancing shoes: Miss Milan, who regularly spins for Grammy-winner Doechii, is one of three DJs who will be providing the feel-good soundtrack. When: Sunday, June 15, 5 to 10 p.m. Where: Westside Motor Lounge, 725 Echo St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $11.35 With Juneteenth falling within Pride month, it's only right that Black LGBTQ+ folks celebrate living unapologetically with a party dedicated to liberation. DJ collective Lavender Lounge, Mami Popo, and Calypso will be rocking the ones and twos. When: Thursday, June 19, 7 to 11 p.m. Where: Monday Night Brewing, 670 Trabert Ave. NW, Atlanta Cost: $15 for general admission ($12 for presale) Kick off summer with an immersive warehouse experience that features pole dancing, burlesque, music, Black queer vendors, gallery art — and a chance to win Atlanta Dream tickets! When: Saturday, June 21, 6 to 9 p.m. Where: 945 Allene Ave. SW, Atlanta Cost: $16.20 This one's for the girls. Women ages 35 and up can step out in their denim shorts and cowgirl hats and boots for a night celebrating Pride. It's the perfect way to get in step for Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour stops in July. When: Saturday, June 21, 8 p.m. to midnight Where: Truth Midtown Restaurant & Lounge, 657 Antone St. NW, Atlanta Cost: $25.45 Southern Fried Queer Pride is putting the 'out' in outside with its 11th annual festival — a wide-ranging series of events spread over seven days to celebrate all things that make Black queer Atlanta culture special. There's programming for all pronouns: themed dance parties, workshops, seminars, an open mic, photo gallery exhibit, pageant, film screening, variety show, and more. It's where you'll want to be to laugh, learn, love, and live authentically. When: June 23 – June 29 Where: Various locations in Little 5 Points, Atlanta Cost: Most events are free to enter, with suggested sliding scale donations of $5-$20 The post How Atlanta Can Celebrate Black Queer Pride in June appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Time Magazine
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Marsha P. Johnson's Story Still Has So Much to Teach Young People
Marsha P. Johnson has been in the news lately because of the Trump administration's ahistorical and failing attempts to erase her role in American history. For those who don't know Johnson, she is perhaps most famous for her role in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, when LGBTQIA+ people stood up against ritualized police violence and fought for the right to gather, dance, and celebrate. Johnson was among the leaders of this historic moment, which has lifted her legacy into the collective conscience despite this administration's attempts to rewrite our shared history. Having written about Johnson for 20 years, it is clear to me that her legacy is far bigger than a single moment. Hers is a story of radical imagination—of faith in the unseen and bold joy in the face of the harshest conditions. Her legacy is carried forward, effortlessly and tenderly, by the same bold joy and fierce imagination of young people across the country. For no matter how hard those in power tried to erase Johnson during her life—and despite the current administration's attacks on our communities today—Johnson and her incredible story continue to offer us a powerful vision of how to transform the world and ourselves in the process. Johnson was described by her dear friend Sylvia Rivera as 'liv[ing] in her own realm…. she saw things through different eyes.' Those eyes were a gift—a necessary lens to perceive not only the brutal conditions she and her friends endured but also to see through those conditions to what could and ought to exist. In 1963, Johnson moved from Elizabeth, N.J. to bustling 42nd Street to follow her dreams of being a Broadway star and to learn more about New York City's gay community. It was on 42nd Street that she met Rivera, who was 13 years old at the time. Rivera was there because she wasn't accepted at home: her mother had tried to kill both Rivera and herself with rat poison. Rivera's mother died and although Rivera survived, she was sent to live with her grandmother, who didn't accept Rivera's deviation from rigid sexual and gender norms. Many others were in similar circumstances—young people who made lives for themselves in Sheridan Square, on Christopher Street, in the hotels and shadows of a city that refused to love them out loud. They lived there because of family misunderstanding—because of exile. Johnson acted as an adopted mother for these young people, providing advice and offering love generously. She felt a deep sense of care and responsibility for her beloved street community, and they would gather in hourly hotels, the only places they could afford. They called them 'Hot Springs' because the radiators blasted so hard that no matter the season, you sweated. And yet, inside those overheated rooms, they dreamed. They imagined a world where they weren't exiled; weren't harassed by police, where they could walk outside in daylight without fear, where they were safe, seen, and loved. It would be difficult to overstate the harshness of the conditions that Johnson was facing in that era. But by working, loving, and building within her community, she achieved staggering accomplishments: co-creating the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries collective that provided affordable housing to trans people in need; going on international tours as a performance artist and singer; and serving as inspiration for artists like Andy Warhol. What could have fueled such remarkable achievements in the face of such profound violence, oppression, and erasure? Johnson believed in the power of joy to fuel dreams and imagination, drawing on resources, community, and power as they grow. These are freedom dreams—the kind that American historian Robin D.G. Kelley writes about. The kind that blossom not in moments of comfort, but when the world feels impossible. In 2025, we collectively face our own harsh circumstances, too numerous to count. Fear, dread, uncertainty and violence are easy to see and feel all around. Yet Johnson's legacy asks us not to succumb to current circumstances, but to look 'through' them into the world that is already being created by our children. They are the ones building their own legacies through freedom dreams. Children have a remarkable capacity for joy—just ask anyone who has spent a day watching the world through a child's eyes. They see the world as it could be, and as it will be, rather than as it is—just like Johnson. Stewarding the innate joy, imagination, and total authenticity of children is one of our greatest responsibilities as parents, caregivers, and loving adults. And it is also a way of stewarding Johnson's legacy. When we teach our children about abundance, love, and connection, we fuel their greatest human gifts: imagination, joy, and authenticity. Johnson loved herself exactly as she was; she knew that she was a promise and not a problem. How can we look to our children—and protect our children—so that they can prolong that knowledge within themselves, and carry it forward as fuel to build the world they deserve? It's also transformed me personally. Studying Johnson has taught me that dreaming is a discipline. We are living in a time when books with trans stories are being banned, when the very idea of trans joy is under attack. But I've learned from Johnson that when the world is hostile to your light, that's the moment to shine even brighter. That laughing, caring, performing, and giving are political acts. That the world we want—where every child feels safe, held, and celebrated—starts in our imagination. And imagination is powerful.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pride Parades 2025: When and where the celebrations will take place in June
This June marks a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ history as the world commemorates the 55th anniversary of the first Pride march held in the United States. Known widely as Pride Month , the occasion brings together millions in parades, demonstrations, and celebrations to affirm queer identity and honor the movement's enduring legacy. As major cities across the United States gear up for Pride parades 2025, the month promises both vibrant festivity and historical reflection, as per a report by USA Today. The Origins of Pride: A Movement Rooted in Protest Although Pride Month is now synonymous with colorful parades and community festivities, its origins are grounded in defiance. The first LGBTQ+ Pride march was held on June 28, 1970, in New York City — exactly one year after the Stonewall Uprising, a six-day protest against police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. The events at Stonewall served as a turning point for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the U.S., leading to the formation of advocacy groups such as the Gay Liberation Front (1969), PFLAG (1973), and GLAAD (1985). It wasn't until 1999 that the U.S. government officially recognized the month, with former President Bill Clinton declaring June as "Gay & Lesbian Pride Month." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Rugas no pescoço? Esse truque caseiro pode ajudar (Tente isso hoje à noite) Revista & Saúde Saiba Mais Undo This designation was expanded in 2009 by President Barack Obama to include the broader LGBTQ+ community. Pride Parades 2025: When and Where the Celebrations Will Take Place Across the United States, cities large and small are preparing for Pride parades 2025, offering everything from live entertainment and food stalls to inclusive community programming. Live Events Here's a look at how ten major cities are commemorating Pride this June, as per a report by USA Today: City Dates Entry Washington, D.C. June 7–8 Free Los Angeles, California June 8 Free Boston, Massachusetts June 14 Free Chicago, Illinois June 21–22 $20 suggested donation Houston, Texas June 28 Varying prices (age/VIP-based) St. Louis, Missouri June 28–29 $10 general admission Denver, Colorado June 28–29 Free San Francisco, California June 28–29 Free Seattle, Washington June 28–29 Free New York City, New York June 29 Free These events typically feature parades, concerts, LGBTQ+ resource booths, and family-friendly activities designed to foster unity and visibility for the queer community. The Symbolism of the Rainbow Flag A signature emblem of Pride Month, the rainbow flag was first created in 1978 by artist and activist Gilbert Baker. Originally composed of nine colors, each stripe represented a theme — from hot pink symbolizing sex to violet denoting the spirit of LGBTQ+ people. Today, the flag has evolved into multiple variations, each reflecting the expanding inclusivity of the queer spectrum. Pride in 2025: Celebration and Vigilance Though same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015 and consensual same-sex relationships were decriminalized federally in 2003, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face legislative and societal challenges. Pride Month serves as both a celebration of victories and a platform to address ongoing inequities. With the Stonewall Inn now a national monument and the Pride flag flying high from coast to coast, Pride parades 2025 represent not only a festive tradition but a resilient act of remembrance and advocacy. FAQs Why is Pride Month celebrated in June? June honors the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ rights history, sparking the first Pride march in 1970. What is the significance of the 2025 Pride celebrations? 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of the first Pride march, reflecting decades of LGBTQ+ advocacy and visibility.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Did Donald Trump cancel Pride Month 2025? Truth behind viral video
A deepfake video doing the rounds on social media shows President Donald Trump saying Pride Month 2025 has been cancelled. However, in reality, Trump has not issued any such orders, USA Today reported. A now-viral video on X shows Trump in the Oval Office saying, "It is with great pleasure that I am announcing that Pride Month is canceled. Pride is a sin ... instead June will be known as confidence month or maybe just June." The fake avatar of the president then makes crude commentary about gay sex that might come across as homophobic. At the end of the video, text on the screen reads, 'This is a deepfake, but let people dream.' The video is not genuine and Trump has not made any such announcement. A community note below the video says, 'Digitally altered video. In the original video Trump is delivering an Easter celebration message'. Here's the original video: The fake video wascreated by an account named Maverick Alexander with 40,000 followers. The account's bio says "mostly satire." Pride Month is observed throughout June with the aim to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. It also celebrates he LGBTQ+ community and highlights their battle for rights. Notably, the Trump administration, the National Park Service in February removed all mentions of "transgender" from the website for the Stonewall National Monument. This was done even though transgender activists have been central to the uprisings. After taking office, Trump went on to ban transgender women in sports, transgender troops in the military, and limit federal recognition to two genders – biologically female and biologically male. Trump has taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion too, and prompted corporations to stop recognizing Pride Month. Pride parades in the United States often receive corporate sponsorship. However, this year under Trump, some of these ended up getting jeopardized.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida city of St. Cloud prevents Pride Month proclamation on Pulse anniversary through blanket ‘pause'
ORLANDO, Fla. — Weeks before St. Cloud was set to declare Pride Month for only the second time in its history, council members decided to pause all proclamations and vote on a new process for considering them — a decision set to take place June 12, the nine-year anniversary of the shooting at Pulse. While council members didn't explicitly say Pride month is the reason behind the pause, the city's first openly gay council member said it was the clear target. 'The proclamation will not be issued,' said Deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher, the city's first openly gay council member. 'To take the time to basically say you're not valued or worthy enough to be a resident of the city is just unbelievable.' Issuing proclamations — an official recognition of a person, group, cause or event — is a common endeavor for elected boards across Florida and around the country. Most are non-controversial, but some spark political division, though it rarely leads to the contortions now occurring in St. Cloud. The Osceola County city of 60,000 is also pausing other proclamations for June, including some that would have been expected to win quick approval, such as Home Ownership Month and Fatherhood Awareness Month. The city council will discuss its policy on proclamations at its June 12 meeting, its last for the month, which effectively nixes the ability to declare June as Pride month in St. Cloud. June is recognized as Pride month in many communities around the country in recognition of the Stonewall Uprising in New York in 1969, a protest considered a turning point for gay rights in the U.S. In Central Florida, June has even deeper meaning for the local community because of the 2016 massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a haven for the LGBTQ community, in which 49 people were killed. But in St. Cloud, council member Kolby Urban proposed a moratorium on proclamations during a May 20 workshop meeting, saying some may be 'controversial' and the current policy doesn't allow enough time for review. The policy currently states that proposed proclamations are placed on the next city council meeting agenda, meaning they can quickly be voted on. But the council unanimously agreed to look at establishing a longer review process before proclamations come up for a vote at a meeting. 'There are certain issues that our city has nothing to do with, they're state and federal issues,' Urban said at the meeting. 'It's controversy that the city doesn't need.' The pause comes amid years of Florida legislation that aimed to stifle pride celebrations and sparked fear in LGBTQ communities. In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Protection of Children Act that prohibited minors from viewing 'sexually explicit performances,' a provision aimed at drag shows, and also punished businesses who knowingly allowed children at these events. The legislation prompted many cities across the state to cancel Pride celebrations — including St. Cloud's very first. St. Cloud's LGBTQ pride festival held its inaugural celebration in 2022. But the following year, amid fear of the legislation, it was cancelled. It returned in 2024 with a rebranded name and more community support as Proud in the Cloud. The festival's founder, Kristina Bozanich, wrote a letter on May 26 to the city council following the decision to pause all proclamations expressing her 'profound disappointment and concern.' 'This action sends a deeply troubling message to the LGBTQ+ residents of St. Cloud and undermines the progress our city has made towards inclusivity in just the past few years,' Bozanich said in the letter. 'Last year's Pride Proclamation was a significant moment for our community, being a clear demonstration of respect, support, and commitment from our city's leadership.' Fletcher introduced the city's 2024 Pride month declaration with unanimous support, and this year he thought it would be the same. But at the first city council meeting on May 27 after the pause on proclamations, Fletcher asked other council members to approve the Pride month proclamation already pending for June 12. It was met with silence. 'I'll take that as a no,' Fletcher said at the meeting. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Fletcher said the pause forces the pride proclamation to be dropped as the June 12 meeting is the final one for the month. The city had already revisited the policy last year in May, a factor Fletcher said is troubling. 'We've already went through the policy and a lot went into that to make sure it was done the right way,' Fletcher said. 'So now to go back and look at it again at the same time seems like there could potentially be a pattern.' St. Cloud isn't the only governing agency with proclamation issues. In June 2023 in nearby Polk County, commissioners rejected the proclamation declaring Pride month on their agenda. In 2023, an Orange County School Board meeting got heated when a board member blasted the annual proclamation declaring October as 'LGBTQ+ Awareness and History' month. It was ultimately approved that year and again in 2024. Last year, the school board changed it' proclamation policy to label them 'celebrations/observations' instead, all of which will be placed on the board agenda in August of each year, Orange Schools spokesperson Michael Ollendorff wrote in an email. LGBTQ+ Awareness and History month will be on the August agenda for approval for the 2025-2026 school year. Osceola County, where St. Cloud is located, is set to vote on declaring June Pride month at its upcoming June 2 commission meeting. _____
