Juneteenth Pride is a Love Letter to Rural Queer BIPOC Folks

The Founder of Juneteenth Pride is a Black, Queer, Gender-Fluid Woman from a small rural city. Therefore, the JP brand, initiative, sibling companies, etc. are dedicated to such folks creating unique and resilient spaces in communities often-times forgotten about.

Juneteenth Pride was born from the heart of a Black, Queer, Gender-Fluid woman raised in a small rural city. That truth sits at the core of everything we do. Our projects, gatherings, and growing community were never about fitting into mainstream narratives of progress or visibility. They were—and still are—about building something bold and necessary from the places often forgotten. Places where joy is survival, and being your full self is a sacred act of healing.

I created “Juneteenth Pride” because I wanted to experience the joy of Queer contributions at Juneteenth celebrations, and the liberation of Black traditions at Pride events. Although the influence of rural communities run deep through the American fabric, our stories are too often one-dimensional—and rarely include accurate reflections of Queer Black folks. I’ll never forget attending a queer social justice conference for Black folks in Washington, D.C. where a young Black gay man stood up and said, “Everyone can’t leave.” That reminder has stayed with me. Because not everyone wants to leave either. Despite the challenges, sometimes the safest, most welcoming place to be is in the arms of a rural community.

We’ve always had a rebellious streak—doing it our way, while sometimes being weighed down by a commitment to culturally dominant traditions committed to “only one way.” That tension is something rural folks know all too well. Juneteenth Pride is a love letter to that truth. It’s for the Queer kid in a town with no Pride parade. For the Black Trans Elder still holding space & sharing wisdom. For the rural changemakers whose brilliance has always been here. You are our ORIGIN STORY. This is for us. And as we grow, so will this space—inviting others to share their stories and deepen the love. Rural and beyond.

-Dr. M. Motley, Founder & CEO of Juneteenth Pride

Photo by Clarke Sanders on Unsplash