Pride Festivals Worldwide Are Putting on Digital Global Pride

With the ongoing global pandemic, events of almost any size are being cancelled worldwide for the forseeable future. Among the most impacted: Pride season. A period that generally stretches from late May to early August, honing in on the June and July months, many organizers have had to postpone or cancel their festivities. In the U.S. Pride of Americas scheduled to happen in Fort Lauderdale, L.A. Pride, and all Pride events in Washington D.C. have been postponed. One report says that over 100 events have been impacted. But now, organizers have banned together to bring the season online in a one-day virtual event: Global Pride.

On Saturday June 27, Pride organizers across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and southern AFrica, will use online platforms to digitize the annual celebration. Livestreams will boast "musical performances, speeches, and key messages from human rights activists," according to a release.

"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," Kristine Garina, President of the European Pride Organisers Association, said in a release. "Above all, we will show our resilience and determination that Pride will be back bigger and stronger than ever before."

There has been no announcement of headliners or other talent involved. Local Pride organizers who would like to bradcast their own digital festivities can fill out a form to express interest.

"Annual Pride events in the United States engage and unite 20 million people who gather to celebrate the strength and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and to raise awareness for social justice and equal rights of all individuals," Ron deHarte, Co-President of the United States Association of Prides, said in the release. "Through the pain and disruption caused by the novel coronavirus, we will deliver a virtual message of hope, comfort, love and we will have an opportunity to show our appreciation to first responders everywhere."

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