UK Black Pride – Europe’s largest Pride celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern-descent – will return in a big way for 2021.
Following their 15th birthday celebrations last year, UK Black Pride will be extended across three days this summer over the weekend 2-4 July.
The organisation have also announced the theme as Love and Rage, to acknowledge the difficult 12 months for so many people within ethnic minority communities.
“What we’ve seen firsthand over the past year is our communities’ persistent commitment to each other,” a press release for UK Black Pride 2021 read.
“Our 2021 theme recognises the ways we continue to show what it means to love, to love hard and to love against the odds, and claps back against the many ways we are told who we are allowed to be, and how to grieve, love and rage.
“In the face of systemic erasure and institutional racism, we will not be quiet. We will be heard, and we will be loud.”
UK Black Pride will once again be a digital event for 2021 and will include an exciting programme that will cater to a broad range of communities the organisation represents.
“Despite the scheduled end of lockdown measures in the UK on 21 June, there are too many unknowns: Will the vaccination rollout happen according to plan? Will the different stages of
lockdown easing result in a spike in COVID-19 infections?” said Alexia Lenoir, Head of Operations at UK Black Pride.
“Our communities are some of those most adversely impacted by Covid-19 and so we are keeping our eye on the ongoing situation and working to deliver an event that offers our communities an opportunity to connect and celebrate in ways we can ensure will be safe.”
Lady Phyll, Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride, added: “We are acutely aware that our communities will be looking forward to an in-person event this year, but we can’t yet say with confidence that we could put on a physical celebration and keep our communities safe.
“The safety of our communities is our responsibility – and one we take very seriously – and so we have taken the decision to err on the side of utmost caution.
“While UK Black Pride’s official 2021 celebration will take place digitally in July, an in-person event later in the year is not off the cards. We are in touch with the Mayor of London’s office and if we can host an in-person event safely with confidence, we will.”
UK Black Pride have opened applications for performers of colour across the UK and internationally to be a part of this year’s event. To find out more and submit and application, click here.
Last year’s digital UK Black Pride celebrations were streamed out to more than 30,000 people and featured a number of community figures, famous faces and creative talent.
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