Quickies: Pride Interupted, Same-Sex Marriage, Transracialism

This week we continue our coverage of Pride Month, with celebrations occurring in several cities in American and abroad accompanied by reminders of #WhyWeNeedPride.

• Boston Pride, Interrupted – Saturday’s Pride march included an estimated 25,000 marchers. It was interrupted for 11 minutes by #WicketPissed in an attempt to . raise awareness about racial inequality in Boston and the violence faced by trans women of color, 11 which have been murdered in the USA so far this year. The main article discusses the need for LGBT safe spaces even in progressive Boston in 2015 and links to photos from the march.
• Indianapolis Prided Grand Marshal GOP Mayor – “At the height of Indiana’s ugly RFRA battle, it was GOP Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard who stepped forward as the bill’s most prominent opponent. Yesterday he served as grand marshal of Indy Pride.” Joe.My.God has video of the event.
• Poland Celebrates it’s 15th Pride – Thousands marched in Warsaw chanting in support for same-sex marriage and adoption rights. They marched through a giant rainbow sculpture in Savior Square. That the sculpture has been repeatedly burned by anti-gay groups.
• “Tel Aviv Loves All Genders” – As many as 180,000 people marched in the parade that capped off Tel Aviv’s week long Pride Festival. This year’s parade was dedicated to transgender rights, with Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai speaking about recent gains and the work still to be done.
• Singapore’s Pink Dot Biggest Yet – “The event, in its 7th year, included speeches and a concert, while 28,000 participants formed a gigantic human pink dot after night fall, the organizer said. The event’s spokesman, Paerin Choa, somberly recounted the challenges the gay rights movement had encountered over the past year, including a court decision to uphold a law criminalizing sexual acts between men.”
• South Korean Pride Meets Protests – “What was meant to be the festive opening ceremony of the Korean Queer Cultural Festival on Tuesday was mostly overshadowed by anti-LGBT protesters with signs and drums.” Buzzfeed has the latest on the battle between pro- and anti-LGBT activists, complete with photos.
• Mexico 1 Step Closer to Marriage Equality – ” Mexico’s supreme court has ruled it is unconstitutional for Mexican states to bar same-sex marriages. But the court’s ruling is considered a “jurisprudential thesis” and does not invalidate any state laws, meaning gay couples denied the right to wed would have to turn to the courts individually. Given the ruling, judges and courts would have to approve same-sex marriages.”
• Thousands March in Belfast For Marriage Equality – Three weeks after the Republic of Ireland voted yes on a referendum to legalized same-sex marriage, activists brought the fight to Northern Ireland, which remains the only part of the UK which hasn’t yet legalized same-sex marriage.
• “Why Comparing Rachel Dolezal To Caitlyn Jenner Is Detrimental To Both Trans And Racial Progress” – “Many have pointed to her living as a black woman as an example of something known as #transracial identity, even comparing Dolezal’s story to Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. But let’s make one thing clear: transracial identity is not a thing.”

Featured image: Singapores’s Pink Dot via Getty Images