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Let’s work for a Washington where all of us can thrive, not just the wealthy.

Juneteenth x Pride 2021

Juneteenth was just made a federal holiday! Black Americans celebrate the anniversary of the day that the slaves in Galveston, Texas heard that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a day to gather, remember our history, and celebrate the resiliency and strength of the Black community.

Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is great, but we need more concrete changes to undo systemic racism in our country. We see economic injustice every day, and we know that it is fundamentally linked to the anti-Black racism that did not end with the Emancipation Proclamation. Even after June 19, 1866, slavery still lingered in some states, and local governments began implementing policies that limited Black Americans’ abilities to own property, find housing, earn a fair return on their work, and access equal education. Today, a few wealthy, white people continue to profit off our systems that are rigged against people of color, and Black folks in particular.

Although we acknowledge the continuing legacy of slavery and racism in our state, Juneteenth is a time to celebrate our community. We hope you take time this weekend to share your joy, remember our history, and uplift one another. Here are some local events that are happening in Washington:

Seattle Events

Spokane Events

Map of Seattle with Juneteenth events listed from the website linked

This month is also Pride Month! As we celebrate Pride, we recognize how people of color, particularly transgender people of color, have been the backbone of the gay liberation movement. We also recognize that we need true justice for LGBTQ+ people if we are to move towards economic justice for all. Black and Indigenous trans people report some of the worst outcomes regarding job discrimination, police violence, health care access, and homelessness.

And Black and brown trans activists have been pioneering the LGBTQ+ liberation movement from the start! Read more about 3 amazing BIPOC activists who led the way at the Stonewall uprising, and who organized to take care of trans youth who were experiencing poverty and homelessness because of their identities.

Image of Black woman wearing Stonewall sash and blue dress, rainbow graphics and text saying "Marsha P. Johnson, After Stonewall, she cofounded STAR, an organization that cared for trans youth experiencing homelessess"