Global Pride Celebration To Go Online
In a first, organisers of Pride festivals across the world are coming together to create a 24-hour online streaming event so the LGBTIQ community can celebrate and support one another in 2020, Time reports.
Over 220 Pride events have been cancelled or postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rather than do nothing, Pride organisers, Interpride and the European Pride Organisers Association, came together to produce a 24-hour online streaming event to be held on 27 June to give the LGBTIQ community a space to come together and celebrate.
The event they’ve called Global Pride is hoped will break down the isolation felt by the community and provide a platform for human rights activists to speak and host workshops as well as give high-profile performers the virtual stage to perform.
Co-President of Interpride, J Andrew Baker, told Time, “LGBT people around the world are insanely resilient, but they face isolation every day in their life. One of the challenges we find today is that LGBT people are even more isolated.”
InterPride and the European Pride Organizers Association are working with national organizations in Canada, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States along with regional networks in southern Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America to bring communities together for the Global Pride event.
Speaking to LGBTnation, Kristine Garina the president of the European Pride Organisers Association said that despite the coronavirus causing the cancellation of events they wouldn’t let the pandemic stop them coming together.
“The unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 mean that most Prides will not take place as planned in 2020, but we’re determined that this won’t stop us from coming together as a united, strong LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate who we are and what we stand for.”
“Global Pride will show the LGBTQIA+ movement for the very best it can be, showing solidarity at a time when so many of us are mourning and strength when so many of us are feeling isolated and lonely. Above all, we will show our resilience and determination that Pride will be back bigger and stronger than ever before.”
“For millions of people around the globe, Pride is their one opportunity each year to come together and feel a part of a community, to feel loved, connected and to know they aren’t alone,” Garina continued. “It’s essential this year that as Pride organizers, we ensure there is still the opportunity to connect, even if we are connecting from home.”
Baker said community connection was needed now more than ever.
“We need community and connection more than ever. “[Global Pride] gives us an opportunity to both connect and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience in the face of this pandemic and the true spirit of Pride,” Baker said.
