June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and this year its timing aligns with another vital moment in U.S. history.
The start of Pride Month has a special significance in 2020, as it coincides with the ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism against Black people ingrained in the United States.
Earlier this week, groups of New Yorkers gathered at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, the landmark site where riots propelled the gay rights movement in 1969. The lead organizer of this event was TS Candii, Black Trans News LLC.
As protests took place (and continue to take place) throughout the city, the gathering on Tuesday, June 4 was dedicated to demanding justice for violence against Black trans people like Nina Pop, Tony McDade, and Iyanna Dior, according to social media posts from people who were on the scene.
Here are some powerful images and videos that portray the strength of solidarity during this time. To support these efforts, you can donate to organizations like the Black Trans News LLC, the LGBTQ Freedom Fund, and the Trans Justice Funding Project. You can read more about Black LGBTQ+ activists throughout history here.
featured image source: Instagram / @thomcphoto