Art by Eva (@eesxop)

Written by Jackson Bird

This week we’re shining a light on a very unique Pride Month and reflecting on the ways in which present circumstances have brought Pride closer to its original spirit.

What we’re checking out

George M. Johnson explains the radical history of Pride, why this year looks far more like the original than ever before, and the responsibility of white people to stand up for the Black community.

Jordyn Jay and Gia Love, founders of the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective (BTFA), wrote in Autostraddle about finding freedom in creativity and black trans joy.

Lockdown measures have been particularly challenging for young LGBTQ+ people stuck inside unaccepting homes. Many of them have turned online for support and community, but technology can be a double-edged sword. This piece in Scientific American outlines some of the unique pressures and risks LGBTQ+ teens face online.

For young people in rural areas who may lack any in-person support even when there isn’t a pandemic happening, Joe English started Hope In a Box, which sends LGBTQ+ books to rural middle and high schools.

If you’re looking to make your workplace more welcoming to trans people, producer and consultant Tuck Woodstock gathered some tips from trans experts for NPR.

New to Netflix this month is the all trans-made (truly––when trans crew members were unable to be found for particular jobs, cisgender experts taught and mentored them) documentary, Disclosure. Charting a century of trans representation in Hollywood, prominent trans actors and filmmakers discuss the ways the media has both uplifted and damaged the lives of trans people.

After that, look towards the future with Imara Jones’ new short documentary film, The Future Is Trans.

If you’re able to, consider celebrating the last week of Pride Month by donating to these organizations run by Black trans people, for Black trans people:

• The Okra Project
• G.L.I.T.S.
• Black Trans Travel Fund
• The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (founded by FRESH Speaker Elle Hearns)

Our reFRESHing Talk of the Week is Raquel Willis’ speech at this month’s Brooklyn Liberation Rally for Black trans lives.

What We’re Watching…

In lieu of a Pride March, on Saturday, June 27th, you can tune into Global Pride––a massive Pride celebration hosted by LGBTQ+ organizations from several nations around the world.

Jamia Wilson and Jackson Bird joined the Center For Fiction’s “Inside and Out” Pride series to discuss representation in media, the role of protest in Pride, and more.

On the latest episode of Becoming Less Racist, Simran Jeet Singh interviewed author Austin Channing Brown about, among other things, the difference between being an ally and being a white savior.

Mia Birdsong continued her My Brilliant Friends live series with a conversation with organizer and co-founder of Critical Resistance Rachel Herzing.

Jess Morales Rocketto appeared on MSNBC to discuss the connection between the Supreme Court’s protection of DACA and the movement for Black lives.

Susan McPherson is hosting impact chats every Tuesday and Friday with business leaders who are stepping up during this time of crisis. See the upcoming lineup here.

The latest from our speakers…

Thomas Page McBee joined Jericho Brown and Carmen Maria Machado in The New York Times to reflect on what Pride means in general and what it means this year in particular.

Jamil Smith wrote the cover story for the July issue of Rolling Stone about the power of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Brittney Cooper was interviewed in The New York Times about the shared anger of black women and how they’re often cast aside in discussions of racial justice.

Joah Spearman was interviewed in The Austin Business Journal about running a travel company during the pandemic & what companies should do next after celebrating Juneteenth.

Ai-jen Poo spoke to Fast Company about how the pandemic has affected the labor movement, particularly for domestic and care workers.

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