People’s Pride 2k17

Sunday, June 11, 2017 1pm

We​ ​recognized​ ​the​ ​history​ ​of​ ​Pride​ ​as​ ​an​ ​act​ ​of​ ​resistance​ ​and​ therefore​​ ​marched​ ​to​ ​bring attention​ ​to​ ​and​ ​hold​ ​Delta​ ​accountable​ ​for​ ​its​ ​historical​ ​exploitation​ ​and​ ​negligence​ ​towards​ ​our black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​people.

The​ ​first People’s​ ​Pride​ ​march​ ​​met​ ​at​ ​349 Crawford Street Pittsburgh Pa 15219 and marched ​directly​ ​after​ ​the​ ​EQT​ ​Equality​ ​March.​ ​This​ ​time​ ​and​ ​place​ ​was​ ​selected​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​attention​ ​to,​ ​but​ ​not​ ​conflict with,​ ​other​ ​events​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area.

Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh​​ ​sold​ ​naming​ ​rights​ ​for​ ​this​ ​year’s​ ​Pride​ ​Parade​ ​to​ ​EQT Corporation​,​ ​a​ ​conglomeration​ ​of​ ​fracking​ ​companies​ ​across​ ​PA​ ​which​ ​pollute​ ​our​ ​land,​ ​water,​ ​and people.​ ​Fracking​ ​and​ ​environmental​ ​pollution​ ​disproportionately​ ​affects​ ​marginalized​ ​communities and​ ​we​ ​can’t​ ​stand​ ​by​ ​as​ ​Delta​ ​hosts​ ​extravagant​ ​parties​ ​with​ ​fracking​ ​money. The EQT Equality March is receiving a lot of criticism from not just queer people.

The first People’s Pride March was ​a​ ​historic​ ​second,​ ​honoring​ ​the​ ​independently​ ​organized​ Roots Pride Pittsburgh ​from​ ​2015 and 2016 which​ ​was organized​ ​by​ ​the​ ​black​ ​trans​ ​led​ Garden of Peace Project.​ ​This​ ​march​ ​was​ ​the​ ​continuation​ ​of​ ​this​ ​legacy to​ ​hold​ ​Delta​ ​accountable​ ​for​ ​its​ ​exploitation​ ​and​ ​negligence​ ​of​ ​black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​bodies.

We​ marched​ ​to​ ​include​ ​local​ ​nonprofits​ ​and​ ​community​ ​members,​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​Delta’s white​ ​cis​ ​gay​ ​pride​ ​parade​ ​and​ ​extravagant​ ​parties​ ​which​ ​are​ ​too​ ​expensive​ ​for​ ​many​ ​non-profits and​ ​communities​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in.

We​ ​marched​ ​and​ ​were​ ​led​ ​by​ ​black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​leaders​ ​and​ ​community​ ​members,​ ​to​ ​bring attention​ ​to​ ​Delta’s​​ ​tokenization​ ​of​ ​black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​populations​ ​which meets​ ​their​ ​quotas​ ​and​ ​increases​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​secure​ ​grants.

We​ ​marched​ ​alongside​ ​vulnerable​ ​and​ ​marginalized​ ​people,​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​Delta’s​ ​tendency to​ ​serve​ ​and​ ​be​ ​lead​ ​by​ ​mostly​ ​cis​ ​gay​ ​white​ ​men​ ​when​ ​the​ ​most​ ​vulnerable​ ​and​ ​marginalized communities​ ​are​ ​black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​people.

We​ ​marched​ ​with​ ​little​ ​cost​ ​and​ ​without​ ​sponsorship​ ​from​ ​exploitative​ ​corporations,​ ​to​ ​criticize​ ​and hold​ ​Delta​ ​accountable​ ​for​ ​committing​ ​to​ ​corporate​ ​funds​ ​from​ ​fracking​ ​companies​ ​which​ ​pollute our​ ​land,​ ​our​ ​water,​ ​and​ ​our​ ​people.

We​ ​marched​ ​by​ ​setting​ ​the​ ​example​ ​and​ ​appointing​ ​black​ ​and​ ​brown​ ​and​ ​trans​ ​professionals​ ​who prioritize​ ​marginalized​ ​LGBTQIA+​ ​populations​ ​and​ ​who​ ​will​ ​take​ ​concern​ ​for​ ​the​ ​health​ ​and​ ​well being​ ​of​ ​its​ ​local​ ​communities.

Special​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​our​ ​community​ ​members,​ ​leaders,​ ​and​ ​organizations​ ​for​ ​their​ ​assistance, conversations,​ ​and​ ​historic​ ​acts​ ​of​ ​resistance​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​organize​ ​these​ ​statements​ ​of​ ​resistance led​ ​by​ ​trans​ ​women​ ​of​ ​color​ ​and​ SisTers PGH,​ ​a​ ​community​ ​organization​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​advocacy, safety,​ ​shelter,​ ​and​ ​permanent​ ​housing​ ​for​ ​our​ ​transgender​ ​and​ ​non-binary​ ​community​ ​in​ ​Western Pennsylvania.

Information​ ​about​ ​Delta​ ​controversy:

http://m.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2017/05/19/members-of-pittsburgh-lgbt-community-criticize-eqt-sponsorship-of-pride-parade

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2017/05/03/Jennifer-Hudson-will-headline-Pride-in-the-Street-Delta-Foundation-June-10-Liberty-Avenue/stories/201705030200

https://www.capachronicle.com/2017/03/opinion-who-has-rights-to-pride-on-the-delta-foundation-queer-complicities-and-capitalism-in-drag/

http://www.queerpgh.com/can-keep-zip-line-eqt-takeover-pittsburgh-pride/

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/07/05/Critics-say-Delta-finances-lack-transparency/stories/201507050117

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/roots-pride-pittsburgh-event-grows-out-of-increasing-discontent-with-delta-foundation/Content?oid=1832271

http://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2015/06/03/city-council-president-blasts-delta-foundation-joins-lgbt-organizations-in-boycott-of-pride-festivities

http://www.pghlesbian.com/2015/05/its-way-past-time-to-talk/