“Creating the global village where we can talk and play!” Celebration of the first in-person Global Black Pride in Toronto

BY PAUL JUNOR

The celebration of the first in-person Global Black Pride (GBP) events in Toronto from July 28^th -31^st, 2022 attracted attendees from the international Black LGBTQI communities.

It was founded in 2020 and it is the first ever and only activist-led global pride event that brings together Black LGBTQI+ communities across all continents to celebrate their culture, diversity and provide a space for activists and community-based organizations across the globe to engage and reflect.

The GBP was a collaboration with Pride Toronto and Blackness Yes! The first GBP event in 2020 was conducted virtually under the theme, “First-Ever Global Black Pride is a Riot,” which resulted in more than seven million viewers tuning in, and the second GBP in 2021 attracted more than 10 million viewers.

Sherwin Modeste, Executive Director of Pride Toronto states, “Being the host city of the first in-person Global Black Pride is indeed an honour and we are looking forward to creating the global village where we can talk and play. I am truly looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Toronto in 2022.”

Rikki Nathanson, Vice-President of Global Black Pride notes, “After having two virtual events, our team longed for the day when we would see our beautiful LGBTQI+ siblings basking and shining in their powerful Blackness in person.”

Gerald Garth, GBP Head of Events and Communications states, “Having events, programs, and activities that speak to the very rich diversity of what the Black experiences looks like locally and globally is very important to Global Black Pride. We aim to have moments of celebration, but also of commemoration, calls to action, and centering the on-going work for equity and justice for Black LGBTQ+ people across the globe.” 

The opening ceremony for GBP was held on Wednesday, July 27^th at the Courtyard Marriott as a collaboration between the GBP, Toronto Blackness Yes!, Toronto’s city councillors, the Mayor’s office as well as other communities.

On Thursday, July 28^th, the Human Rights Conference was held. It featured human rights defenders and global activists both physically and digitally. The aim of the conference was to respond to the violence, discrimination, and exclusion that have harmed Black people and people of colour who identify as LGBTQI+.

On Friday, July 29^th, a Health Fair and Global Village was held as an outdoor street festival. It featured vendors, artists, and merchants who displayed, sold and promoted their crafted goods and services.

The final event BLOCKOBANA was held on Sunday, July 31^st at Stackt Market on 28 Bathurst Street. It was advertised as a festival where LGBTQI+ African, Black and Caribbean people celebrate cultures free from homophobia, transphobia and anti-Black racism.

This event was timely as it occurred during festivities associated with the Toronto Caribbean festival and Emancipation Day celebrations.

Anyone interested in GBP can visit them at www.globalblackpride.org