CINCINNATI — Pride month in 2020 looks different than in years past. Due to social distancing guidelines and coronavirus concerns, the LGBTQ community is finding new ways to celebrate during the month of June.
“Let's face it, we're all tired of being inside,” 84.51 data solutions analyst Steven Martz said
Come Outside for Pride has been giving people things to do – safely – to celebrate outdoors. Activities include crafts, decorations, a playlist and a group of traveling dancers. It’s a partnership with Dancefix, The Human Rights Campaign, AGAR, Kroger and 84.51.
“These types of events show ways to kind of bring the community back together,” Martz said.
Cincinnati Black Pride programmed virtual events including dance parties and a film festival all weekend.
“We couldn't give up; our theme this year is ‘still here,’” Cincinnati Black Pride co-founder Tim’m West said. “We thought we'd still be here in person.”
Pride is a celebration, but it started with a riot. Black trans women threw the first bottles outside the Stonewall Inn 51 years ago.
“Certainly with Black queer and trans people, sometimes those murders don't even get talked about at all,” West said.
June 11, three people killed Riah Milton in Liberty Township. Milton was transgender, and it is still unknown if her identity made her a target for her assailants.
“So when we say Black Lives Matter, we're talking about all Black lives,” West said.
There’s a saying: ‘Every Pride is someone’s first Pride.’ A chance for those in the LGBTQ community to see others like them. For now, that means virtual meet-ups until in-person celebrations can happen again.
The Cincinnati Pride festival and parade, rescheduled due to the pandemic, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3rd. The event will be located on 2nd and 3rd streets between Elm and Walnut downtown.
