“What does Pride mean to you?”
Amid local and national uncertainty about the future of Pride, those of us who have historically been pushed to the margins of the LGBTQ+ community — trans folks, Black folks, women, and many parts of Baltimore’s queer community — came together this June to organize intimate moments of love, catharsis, and resource-sharing outside of the long-standing Baltimore Pride.
Baltimore Trans Pride, organized by Maryland Safe Haven, took over part of Druid Hill Park throughout the weekend, offering electrifying performances, local trans artists and vendors, and access to critical legal and social supports. Likewise, in its second year, Charm City Pride turned all of Power Plant Live! into an enclave of music and ecstasy curated by queer party collectives Uncuffed Events, The Queers Upstairs, GRL PWR, and VERSION.
I asked folks at Baltimore Trans Pride to share why — with trans people being criminalized and pulled out of public life, trans immigrants being kidnapped and deported, and more of us disappearing each day — showing up for Pride still matters. Although our community was met with unique opposition and harm this year, many of us still emphasized the freedom, strength, and empowerment we feel together. For us, this experience of creating and sharing freedom is the best balm for the present and a roadmap to alternative futures.
