Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels
During this year’s Pride Month celebration, a Seattle event hosted by LGBTQ+ members of color decided to charge white guests a $50 “reparations fee” to attend. According to the New York Post, the event is set to occur this weekend in the Emerald City’s Jimi Hendrix Park. It has sparked controversy and backlash amongst potential attendants who were rubbed the wrong way by the announcement.
The Take B(l)ack Pride event’s organizers wrote about this weekend’s celebration, “All are free to attend. HOWEVER, this is a BLACK AND BROWN QUEER TRANS CENTERED, PRIORITIZED, VALUED, EVENT,” continuing, “White allies and accomplices are welcome to attend but will be charged a $10 to $50 reparations fee that will be used to keep this event free of cost for BLACK AND BROWN Trans and Queer COMMUNITY.”
Claiming that the event’s organizers were selectively discriminatory, another LGBTQ+ group, Capitol Hill Pride, asked the city to review the event’s fee.
According to Q13 News, Capitol Hill Pride directors Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson, both white, said in a letter, “It has come to our attention that an event called ‘Take B(l)ack Pride’ at the Jimi Hendrix public park June 26th is charging Whites only admission as reparations. We consider this reverse discrimination in its worse form, and we feel we are being attacked for not supporting due to disparaging and hostile e-mails.”
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But shortly following, the Seattle Human Rights Commission publicly tweeted a response, surprisingly backing the Take B(l)ack Pride event by saying the Capitol Hill directors should learn more about race issues.
Captioning the letter, “Our response to Capitol Hill Pride,” the Seatle HRC started, “While we appreciate your thinking of us to help with this issue, we must, unfortunately, advise you to advance on the issue without the participation of the Commission. The unique nature of your situation does not, in fact, violate any of your human rights as stated in the UN Declaration of Human Rights,”
The Commission then checked the group on their privilege and advised them to “educate” themselves about the intersection of race and queer identity, continuing, “Black trans and queer peoples are among the most marginalized and persecuted peoples within the LGBTQIA2S+ community…We would like to recommend, if possible, that you educate yourself on the harm it may cause Seattle’s BIPOC community in your pursuit of a free ticket to an event that is not expressly meant for you and your entertainment.”
Spoken like a true ally.
Closing out Pride Month, this weekend’s Take B(l)ack Pride event will include movies, performances, dancing, food and a “HOEVID-19 Ball” featuring $400 category prizes. Those interested in attending can check out the event page for more information.