LA Pride 2020 is going to be a protest.
Christopher Street West (CSW), the organization that produces LA Pride, announced Wednesday that they will be holding a march “in response to racial injustice, systemic racism, and all forms of oppression.” It will act in place of the city’s annual Pride parade and festival, which are both canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protest march will take place on Sunday, June 14 at 10 a.m. PST. It’s planned to begin at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. and will continue towards West Hollywood, where the parade normally takes place, according to the Los Angeles Times. All participants are urged to wear face coverings at all times and follow the California Department of Health’s coronavirus guidelines.
After news broke of the Pride march, LGBTQ+ people voiced questions and concerns about how CSW will conduct the event. Twitter users flocked to LA Pride’s post asking if CSW will invite police and corporations to the march (like they’ve done with past parades) and if the group organized the event in tandem with a Black-led organization.
“Are organizers coordinating with BLM-LA/other black-led groups?” one Twitter user asked. “I’m excited for the solidarity + I want to make sure that this protest doesn’t steal attention or hurt the BLM movement.”
Queer poet Charles Jensen also demanded further explanation from CSW, writing, “How are you ensuring our community’s safety particularly at this time when police have targeted those seeking justice—black bodies and people of color?” Other users pointed out that police are continually escalating the violence during demonstrations around the nation by beating protesters, spraying them with tear gas, firing rubber bullets, and using sound cannons.
Activist and writer Ashlee Marie Preston also issued a statement in response to LA Pride’s protest announcement, saying that it was not coordinated with Black Lives Matter or any other Black movement leaders in LA.
“While I’m sure [the march] was organized with the best of intentions, myself, Black leadership with Los Angeles, nor the Black Lives Matter movement organized this march nor were we contacted about it,” Preston said in the video statement. “It’s important for non-Black allies to recognize that while your intentions might be sure; using a Black organization’s name without its permission or consent to collaborate not only undermines the work, but it dilutes the message and weakens the overall impact.” Watch the full statement below.
Back in 2017, the LA Pride parade morphed into #ResistMarch, a protest against the election of Donald Trump and for the protection of LGBTQ+ rights. It drew a crowd of thousands and was organized by an outside committee in tandem with LA Pride.
