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Pride events should be inclusive of EVERYONE in the LGBTQ+ community.
Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by coming together. With this in mind, Pride organizers have a responsibility to create affirming, supportive, and safe spaces for all members of the community—including transgender individuals. If you're planning on throwing any kind of Pride event this month, here are ways to make sure it is trans-inclusive!
Ask trans people for input
The first mistake most make when organizing Pride events is denying transgender people a seat at the table. Invite trans people to take part in planning Pride events at all levels, including in leadership roles. Invest in the input of transgender members of the community by reaching out to, involving, hiring, listening to, and valuing transgender members of the LGBTQ community. Take any concerns, critiques, advice, and feedback you recieve seriously, and be open to doing things differently than it has been done in the past.
Recognize there is more than one trans identity
Transgender people are not a monolith; they are diverse in their gender identities and gender expressions, and have intersecting identities related to race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, and more. When hosting Pride events, it is really important to recongnize the various and intersecting identities that exist within the trans community.
Invite trans celebrities and performers
Pride events often invite gay-friendly artists to perform, but fail to extend invites to transgender celebrities, speakers, and talent who would likely be of interest to members of trans community and to the LGBTQ community at large. It is important for folks attending Pride to see transgender talent well represented in your lineup.
Host trans-specific programs and events during Pride
Pride gatherings often include an array of programming aside from the parade and music festival components, including forums, panels, and informational sessions. These events also often cater to the "majority" of folks who attend Pride events (a.k.a. cisgender gay men). Whether thinking about intersectionality, trans inclusivity, or equality more broadly, it's important that trans narratives not only be included in programming, but given equal space, time, and consideration.
Have trans-inclusive or gender neutral bathrooms
When you take away the rights of a person to use a bathroom in a public space, you are denying them the ability to exist in that space. Ensuring venues have a bathroom available that is gender neutral (or trans-inclusive) is key to maintaining the safety of attendees. Some event planners approach this by posting temporary gender-neutral bathrooms signage on existing bathroom facilities to allow them to be used by anyone during the event.
Include trans people on promotional materials
We have all seen flyers for Pride events featuring "sexy" and fit men, who may or may not even actually attend Pride events. It's important that if a party states it will cater to the LGBT community, the promotional materials mirror that statement. Include trans people on the flyer if the event is intended for people across the LGBT spectrum.
Provide trans services
If your Pride event is inviting vendors and service organizations to participate, include organizations, sponsors, and groups that support the transgender community, who directly serve transgender people, or that are run by transgender people. Doing this will help ensure trans guests are supported, engaged, and welcomed.
Don't false advertise
Don't splash the letters "LGBTQ" on promotional material for events that cater to gay men only. If you are having an event and aren’t being mindful that trans people will attend by working to make sure they have access to a safe and inviting space, you are participating in false advertising.
Attend Trans Pride
During Pride month, several cities host their own "Trans Pride," and in cases where the invitation is extended to the broader LGBT community and allies, it is important that cisgender allies show our support. Attend Trans Pride, volunteer, and get involved, just remember to be mindful that you are may not be the primary or default audience.
Know your LGBTQ history
When discussing the history of how Pride came to be, historical accuracy is very important. Do not erase trans people from LGBT history, or downplay the role trans women and men played in the riots at the Black Cat Tavern or Stonewall Inn. Rather, invest time in preserving LGBT history and telling it accurately.
Celebrate and create space for trans people
Cisgender members of the LGBT community: you have a responsibility to create space for and celebrate transgender people. During Pride events, there are levels of privilege often afforded to gay men, so please don't allow it to go unchecked. You do not lose power in sharing space with others, we only become stronger as a community.
Leave the discrimination at home
The trans community faces constant discrimination, transphobia, and transmisogyny. Whether you are hosting, attending, or working a Pride event this year, please be careful about what language you use and how you treat others. Pride is about inclusivity, and if you are unable to have compassion and love for all who will be present in the room, you might be the one who needs to stay at home.
