WASHINGTON ( June 23, 2020 ) — This month, as the media turns its lens to the dangers faced by marginalized people, specifically Black people and Black LGBTQ+ folks, PFLAG National and Wear Your Voice launch #YouAreMyPride, a video and social media storytelling campaign. Following nearly eight months of collaboration,these empowering and affirming messages arrive at a time when feelings of loss and marginalization are amplified not only by prolonged social distancing and closures of Pride festivities but also by ongoing violence and discrimination against Black people and Black LGBTQ+ people in particular.
"Led by pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman; Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx gay liberation and transgender rights activist and sex worker; and Miss Major, a transgender elder and activist, LGBTQ+ activists rose up against injustice, brutality, disparate treatment, and violence at the hands of law enforcement. And in 1972, Jeanne Manford, a mother and ally, joined in, raised her voice, and lent her privilege to the fight," said Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG National. "PFLAG's history is deeply connected to Pride's history, and that history is embedded in allyship."
"In a time of unrest and uncertainty, PFLAG National and Wear Your Voice want to empower families and allies of Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people to shower them with more love than ever before," said PFLAG National Board Member Marilyn Devoe Willis, Ed.D. "Just in time for us to remember the roots of the movement, we are letting the world know that our children are our pride."
Tied to the global actions to end systemic racism, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and people of color who are more likely to experience loss of work, housing, education, and healthcare access.
"'You Are My Pride' videos feature the affirming voices of LGBTQ+ community leaders and allies, as well as families, parents, and caretakers. This season has been exceptionally trying for all of us, but especially for queer and trans BIPOC," said Ravneet Vohra, founder, and CEO of Wear Your Voice. "Since November 2019, Wear Your Voice and PFLAG have been collaborating to establish #YouAreMyPride as a much-needed moment of celebration of our communities. It is Wear Your Voice's entire mission as a publication to honor the lives and voices of queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Our hope is through these videos, we will be able to communicate just how loved we are, and proud we are of our BIPOC LGBTQ+ family. Friends, families, and loved ones of LGBTQ+ people can participate by sharing their pride on social media with #YouAreMyPride."
#YouAreMyPride is written and produced by Hope Harris with co-writer Kenton Chen and features appearances by Melissa Harris Perry, Ali Adler, Sawyer Gilbert-Adler, Rick Cosnett, Nisha Ganatra, Kim Hamilton, Raquel Willis, with proud PFLAG families Dr. Marilyn D. Willis, Aruna Rao, Leela Rao, Leo Rao, Robert A. Marchman, Travis A. Marchman, Edith Guffey, Bryan Guffy, Marsha Aizumi, Aiden Takeo Aizumi, Blanca Leos, and Leo Gamboa. "I Already Love You," instrumental music provided by Joy Hanna, and photography and video by Videvo, Matt Thompson, Matt Law, Brandon Jones, Tunushree Rao, Brian Kyed, Sharon McCutcheon, Mick De Paola, Denin Lawley, Anna Elizabeth, Tyler Gebhart, and Kristina Tripkovic.
#YouAreMyPride launches on Tuesday, June 23 on a dedicated landing page at WearYourVoiceMag.com .
ABOUT PFLAG
PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ+ ) people, their parents and families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed. To learn more, visit pflag.org, like us on Facebook ( /pflag ), or follow us on Twitter ( @pflag ) or Instagram ( @pflag ).
ABOUT WEAR YOUR VOICE
Wear Your Voice is a digital magazine for and by LGBTQIA+ Black, Indigenous, and people of color ( BIPOC ) that publishes reported articles, features, personal essays, and critical analyses of current events, politics, entertainment, culture, sexuality, health, and more. The publication's goal is to work towards liberation from all structures of power and oppression. We believe that education, the dissemination of information, and the witnessing and documenting of history from our queer, trans, BIPOC perspectives are essential to the process of liberation. To learn more about Wear Your Voice find us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and read us wearyourvoicemag.com .
—From a press release
