For the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride has long offered a place to be visible, celebrated, and affirmed. For generations it has created a space for people and their allies to gather openly, honor their identities, and push for greater acceptance.
But for many African American LGBTQIA+ Pittsburghers, there was still something missing. The broader Pride events and programs were important, but they didn’t fully reflect the experiences, cultural needs, or the day-to-day challenges of African American LGBTQIA+ people and their families.
For Flecia Harvey and many others in the community that gap showed the need for something more intentional and specific—a Pride celebration created by and for Black LGBTQIA+ Pittsburghers. That need became the foundation for Pittsburgh Black Pride, which has provided social information, health education, and cultural resources since its founding in 1995.
“We started because there was nothing for us to have,” Ms. Harvey, the longtime CEO of Pittsburgh Black Pride, said. “There was no kind of celebration for our authentic selves. There was nothing in place for us. So just like all the other different Prides, we decided to create a Pride for us.”
While Pride Month is observed throughout June, Pittsburgh Black Pride has always been larger than a single annual event. It’s also a year-round source of community connection, support, and information for African American LGBTQIA+ individuals and families throughout the Pittsburgh region. “Every year we get together and not only celebrate who we are, we try to get resources for our community,” Ms. Harvey said. “We want to be a support as much as a celebration.” As always, PBP will hold its celebrations at the end of July, with this year’s festivities running from July 23-26.
The support Pittsburgh Black Pride offers has always included family. Ms. Harvey remembers bringing her own child to Pittsburgh Black Pride gatherings, including barbecues where children of LGBTQIA+ parents could meet and grow up around other families like their own. At the time, Ms. Harvey said, people often used the phrase “in the life” to describe LGBTQIA+ identity and community.
“I did not want my child to feel alienated or not proud of herself,” Ms. Harvey said. “We would have our barbecue and bring our kids, and our kids would play with kids like our kids. They were just children. There was no gay or straight. They were just a bunch of kids, and they all grew up together.”
That generational connection continues. Her daughter Rachelle is now on Pittsburgh Black Pride’s board, along with others who grew up around the organization and understand its history. Ms. Harvey said she recently “put my torch down” and helped assemble a board that can carry the work forward.
“I passed the torch to them, and in the same essence, they have no shame of who their parents are and no shame of who they become,” she said. “It gave them a positive outlook for themselves. It was uplifting for them. My role is to help guide and encourage them, while the next generation of leadership develops its own voice.”
The organization’s work includes drawing attention to urgent health needs. HIV and AIDS awareness remain central, Ms. Harvey said, especially because younger people still need education, prevention information and access to care. She said sexually transmitted diseases remain a concern, particularly for young people who are exploring their identities and may not always have safe, affirming places to ask questions.
“The avenue that is always at the forefront is HIV and AIDS awareness,” she said. “A lot of kids fall victim to that, especially when they are exploring and trying to figure themselves out. We try to keep that on a high bar.”
But Ms. Harvey said the needs facing Pittsburgh’s African American LGBTQIA+ community extend far beyond one diagnosis or one health issue. She hears concerns about healthcare access, housing, social isolation, mental health and the lack of a permanent gathering place for LGBTQIA+ people of color.
Safe housing remains a particular challenge. Some LGBTQIA+ people have found themselves disrespected or mistreated because of their identities, including in places where they should have been secure. Some have had to leave housing situations after being tormented, disrespected or treated unfairly.
“It is a hard place for them,” Ms. Harvey said. “Everybody needs to have a safe space, somewhere they can feel OK in their skin.”
Pittsburgh Black Pride has also begun focusing more intentionally on older adults. The organization started a senior tea party last year to give elders a chance to reconnect, celebrate and receive support. For some seniors, especially those living in nursing homes or senior housing, social isolation can be a serious issue.
For young people, social support and mental health support are especially important. Many did not live through earlier periods when LGBTQIA+ people had fewer protections and faced more open hostility, but they are now watching some rights and protections come under renewed threat.
That makes support from the community as a whole even more vital, especially organizations that have championed Pittsburgh Black Pride in the past. Ms. Harvey said UPMC has been an important partner in PBP’s efforts, providing health-related resources and maintaining a visible presence when other institutions were not always there.
“UPMC is very active every year,” she said. “If nobody else was there, UPMC was there. For a corporation like UPMC to give us support that we need, we really are appreciative and thankful for them.”
More consistent connections with UPMC and other organizations could make an even greater difference, connecting people to screenings, exams, and appropriate care helps save lives. UPMC’s dedication to culturally competent care is especially important for a population often feels like caregivers can’t relate to their experiences.
For Ms. Harvey, the work that began in 1995 is rooted in a simple but powerful idea—people deserve to be celebrated, protected, and connected to help without having to hide who they are. After more than three decades of service, Pittsburgh Black Pride is preparing a new generation to continue that important work.
