This weekend, as part of one of the most anticipated celebrations of the summer, thousands of people have made the trek to the capital for Pride. But the parade didn’t end yesterday. Today, UK Black Pride, one of the most significant Pride events in the country, will be held in Hackney’s Haggerston Park for the first time.

UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest party for LGBT+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent, and creates a safe space for people from these diverse backgrounds to celebrate their sexuality, culture and shared experiences. Their mission statement echoes that sentiment, saying: “UK Black Pride promotes unity and cooperation among LGBT+ people of diasporic communities in the UK, as well as their friends and families.”

Cooperation between LGBT+ people from ethnic minorities and their white contemporaries has been an endless battle, however. Research conducted by Stonewall in 2018 revealed that 51 per cent of LGBT+ people of colour (POC) have experienced racism and discrimination from within the LGBT+ community. Trade Union Congress (TUC) published research in 2019 which revealed LGBT+ POC suffer disproportionate amounts of sexual harassment and sexual violence in the workplace.

London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits Show all 25 1 /25 London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits SOCIAL-Pride-13575800.jpg A reveller wears a hat made of plastic dolls during the Pride in London Parade in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 6, 2019. See PA story SOCIAL Pride. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Dominic Lipinski PA London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160390756.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits AFP-1IE266.jpg A member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community poses for a photograph at the annual Pride Parade in London on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images NIKLAS HALLE'N AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160388766.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits AFP-1IE25J.jpg A member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community poses for a photograph at the annual Pride Parade in London on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images NIKLAS HALLE'N AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits AFP-1IE262.jpg A member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community poses for a photograph at the annual Pride Parade in London on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images NIKLAS HALLE'N AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits SOCIAL-Pride-15064325.jpg Dancers take part in the Pride in London Parade in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 6, 2019. See PA story SOCIAL Pride. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Dominic Lipinski PA London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits SOCIAL-Pride-11404395.jpg A reveller ahead of the Pride in London Parade in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 6, 2019. See PA story SOCIAL Pride. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Dominic Lipinski PA London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 2019-07-06T135655Z-518085815-RC1DC9E56ED0-RTRMADP-3-GAY-PRIDE-BRITAIN.JPG A participant takes part in the annual Pride in London parade, in London, Britain July 6, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls HENRY NICHOLLS REUTERS London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160394874.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits AFP-1IE25F.jpg A member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community poses for a photograph at the annual Pride Parade in London on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images NIKLAS HALLE'N AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160394805.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160389308.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Parade goers during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 2019-07-06T141501Z-1727001309-RC15E254D610-RTRMADP-3-GAY-PRIDE-BRITAIN.JPG Participants take part in the annual Pride in London parade, in London, Britain July 6, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls HENRY NICHOLLS REUTERS London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160386919.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Parade goers during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160391640.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits AFP-1IE24L.jpg Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community pose for a photograph before taking part in the annual Pride Parade in London on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images NIKLAS HALLE'N AFP/Getty Images London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits wenn36683721.jpg Pride Parade London 2019. Over 500 LGBT+ parade groups march through central London to celebrate the diversity of the LGBT+ community. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 06 Jul 2019 Credit: Wheatley/WENN MAAA/ZDS Wheatley/WENN London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160392129.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits GettyImages-1160388695.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Parade goers during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160390632.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1160390647.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: A parade goer during Pride in London 2019 on July 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London) Tristan Fewings Getty Images for Pride in London London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits SOCIAL-Pride-12534864.jpg A reveller during the Pride in London Parade in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 6, 2019. See PA story SOCIAL Pride. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Dominic Lipinski PA London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1154024961.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Amanda Lepore attends a pride brunch hosted by House of Holland and The London EDITION in aid of Albert Kennedy Trust at Berners Tavern on July 6, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for The London EDITION) David M. Benett Dave Benett/Getty Images for The London Pride 2019: The Best Rainbow Outfits 1154024912.jpg LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Maxim Magnus attends a pride brunch hosted by House of Holland and The London EDITION in aid of Albert Kennedy Trust at Berners Tavern on July 6, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for The London EDITION) David M. Benett Dave Benett/Getty Images for The

Over the years, the POC-inclusive pride flag (which adds black and brown to the rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker) has been used to draw attention to and address such racism in the community. At Manchester’s Pride event this year, however, its presence drew both praise and criticism on social media. While some were open to the decision to highlight racial diversity within the LGBT+ community through the addition of the new colours, some Twitter users held onto their preference for the traditional six-stripe rainbow, with some saying “this is not the correct representation of our flag” and “it feels like the Pride flag is being hijacked”.

The rejection of POC members of the LGBT+ community and their culture could also be seen in the US where a gay bar announced in May they would ban rap music, a decision which could lead to individuals from ethnic backgrounds to be unfairly separated from the “mainstream” because their culture is not seen as being worthy in spaces dominated by cis white male gays.

Racism is still rampant at pride events, leading many to feel left out and unrepresented. This is why events like UK Black Pride are needed in addition to “mainstream” Pride. Ironically, some white gay people claim they feel “left out” of the Black Pride celebrations, or may be confused regarding whether they are allowed to attend.

Josh Rivers, a representative from UK Black Pride said: “Allyship is hugely important and we appreciate that people outside of our lived experience are questioning whether or not they’re allowed to attend.

“We ask that allies keep in mind that allyship respects boundaries. Allyship is as much about stepping back as it is speaking up.

“Allies should keep in mind that their presence can also be triggering despite their best intentions, and that they can wholly support UK Black Pride and the people our organisation represents without occupying a space designed for us.”

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This sentiment is carried even more strongly across a number of platforms, like AZ magazine, for example, an online publication for LGBT+ POC which also hosts live events. AZ Hub is a space which hosts workshops, screenings and art as a response to the lack of daytime, alcohol free social events for queer, trans and intersex POC (QTIPOC). Safe, closed spaces like these are needed and therefore exist to ensure QTIPOC individuals feel comfortable to share their experiences as well as a chance to feel free of judgement from people who do not identify with them and therefore may not truly understand their struggles.

So, for the white members of the LGBT+ community who are wondering whether they can occupy a space established by LGBT+ POC – whose contributions to gay culture are often overlooked, whitewashed or stigmatised, you must remember why events like these are needed.

UK Black Pride and other events aimed specifically at POC will always keep POC at the centre of attention, as they should. It should come as no surprise that due to their cultural backgrounds, African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Asian and Latino members of the LGBT+ community often have an even tougher coming out experience and may struggle to live openly as LGBT+ identifying individuals.