Pride 2024 in California: Black LGBTQ+ People and Allies Celebrate Pride, History and Movement Heroes  

Jasmyne Cannick (CBM) – On June 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation for Pride Month in California, joining others around the world commemorating the LGBTQ+ strugglefor equal rights following the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. Many historians regard that event as a catalyst for the global LGBTQ+ movement. “This month – and every month – California stands with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community as they take pride in who they are and whom they love. Pride Month is a time to remember the gift that is our remarkable diversity, making all of us stronger as we continue to pursue equality, acceptance, and freedom for all,” Newsom said in a statement. June also marks Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the abolition of chattel slavery, in the United States. For Black LGBTQ+ advocates, these overlapping celebrations provide a unique opportunity to highlight the principles of activism that have become key to making a space for themselves in the world. Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and journalist, spoke to California Black Media about how Pride and Black activism have always been intertwined, noting that activist Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, started the series of...