PRIDE IN London have released a statement today apologising to black members of the LGBT+ community who have experienced racism.
People from black and ethnic minority backgrounds have expressed concerns over bullying and other forms of discrimination while volunteering for the organisation.
Pride in London admitted that they had fallen short in recognising and acting on these incidents respectfully.
The statement read: “The Pride movement started over 50 years ago to deliver equality for all LGBT+ people. To have not done that for Black, Brown and Asian people recently, isn’t good enough and falls below the standards to which we’re committed to live by.
“We are committed to being actively anti-racist, supported by updated practices, policies, procedures and a culture that is reflective of the rich diversity of London and its LGBT+ community.”
Following extensive community consultations, they revealed new core values in February that will help steer the organisation towards equality for marginalised groups.
Leadership takes responsibility for implementing values around visibility, unity and equality as a volunteer led organisation.
Today, they also launched the Proud of Pride plan that sets out clear objectives for members of the community to have their needs and concerns met.
Before Pride in London takes place this September, they have proposed to implement a leadership team that is at least 50% representative of minority and ethnic voices and prioritise investment in their Unity Fund by increasing annual funding to £100,000, providing grants to grassroot organisations from across the LGBT+ community.
They also propose a zero-tolerance approach to microaggressions and a revised commitment and strategy to diversity, equity and inclusion from May this year.
Christopher Joell-Deshields, Executive Director of Pride in London, said: “The past few weeks have been challenging and personally painful as a member of the Black Queer community.
“I know that racism not only chips away at Black Lives daily in society but there is also a level of racism that exists within the wider LGBT+ community that remains a problem, and has to be addressed collectively. Picking up the mantle of leadership to deliver transformative change is no easy task but it is one I feel truly proud of and optimistic about.
“As Pride in London moves forward we will continue to listen and create a space that values diverse views and incorporates these into its culture, processes and decision making. The leadership team will drive the dynamics of a cultural change that uproots all forms of discrimination. I want queer people of colour to feel safe, be seen, be heard, be respected and be celebrated within the organisation.”
Pride in London have expressed that they humbled by the support and guidance given to them by community leaders and from people of colour who have shared their experiences.
The team said: “[We] would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and encourage others who want to be a part of our transformation to join us as a volunteer; your difference, skill and lived experience will be valued. The organisation will continue to work tirelessly with the community to drive positive, meaningful change and be part of the future of a progressive and inclusive Pride.”
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About time this was both identified and dealt with.
Few historically knowledgeable African-skinned men and women will have been shocked; surprised, or even offended to discover England’s Caucasian Homosexual leaders struggle to treat non-caucasian men and women volunteers with justice; integrity, or equality.
The awful truth is that the United State’s caucasian middle-class women’s campaign; along with the homosexual campaigners used African American people’s 1960’s struggle against racism to launch their “civil rights” campaign.
Middle-class Caucasian Feminists and Homosexual leaders have benefited most from African-American people’s brutal struggle to end Judicial racism in the United States.
I call on the homosexual community to stop misappropriating the Rainbow Flag. The Rainbow Flag was first used by African Americans; especially the Rainbow PUSH campaign lead by the Rev Jesse Jackson.
Nelson Mandela adopted the Rainbow flag for South Africa.
I call on England’s Pride leaders to create their own distinctive flag and stop misappropriating the African American Rainbow Flag.
As a Black man, a veteran GLF (Gay Liberation Front) member, participant in the first ever Gay Pride March in 1972, I am incensed by Pride in London’s disregarding of the debt you owe to GLF’s imaginative, courageous activism. The fact that nowhere in your exploitative promos for your ‘recreation’ of the first march do you mention GLF as the initiators of the Gay Pride Marches. Furthermore you deviously imply that the first marches were the initiatives of London Pride. That is not accidental. Denying a culture’s history is not an omission. It is an attack, equivalent to homophobia. We need our history!