June is a month full of celebrations. It’s the start of summer, graduation season, and most importantly, home to both Pride Month and Juneteenth. Whenever this time of year rolls around, Pittsburgh Black Pride finds their organization busy in the best type of way as they work to support the LGBTQIA+ community as well as Black community members. It’s their mission to celebrate representation through Pride and Juneteenth celebrations, education, and investment in the future. We speak with Pittsburgh Black Pride leaders President Tausha Bonner, Vice President Michelle Flewellen, Sergeant-at-Arms Terrence McGeorge, and Youth Leader Dawn Martin to find out why Pride and Juneteenth matter as much today as in the past, why they do what they do, and how you can help build a more inclusive and empowered community year-round.

Talking Pride Month and Juneteenth with Pittsburgh Black Pride

TABLE Magazine: What’s new this year for Pittsburgh Black Pride and what are you looking forward to?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: This year, Pittsburgh Black Pride focuses on expanding impact, visibility, and meaningful connection within our community. We are continuing to create spaces that center joy, culture, wellness, leadership, and belonging to Black LGBTQIA+ people and our allies. From dynamic programming and community engagement to wellness initiatives and celebratory experiences, we are intentionally building opportunities for people to feel connected, empowered, and affirmed.

What excites us most is witnessing community in action—seeing people come together across generations, backgrounds, and lived experiences to celebrate who we are. Pride is more than an event; it is a reminder that our stories, our joy, and our existence matter. We are looking forward to creating moments that inspire healing, celebration, visibility, and hope.

TM: Why is it so integral to have both “Black Pride” and Juneteenth celebrations in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: Black Pride and Juneteenth are both celebrations rooted in liberation, resilience, and collective progress. For Black LGBTQIA+ communities, these moments are deeply interconnected because they reflect multiple histories of struggle, survival, resistance, and joy.

Juneteenth reminds us of the ongoing journey toward racial justice and freedom, while Pride honors the fight for visibility, dignity, equality, and self-expression. Together, they invite us to celebrate the fullness of identity and acknowledge that liberation is never one dimensional.
In Pittsburgh, celebrating both matters because representation matters. Community matters. These celebrations create spaces where people can feel seen, valued, and empowered while honoring those who fought for the freedoms we continue to defend today.

TM: How do you plan to uplift the community for Black Pride and Juneteenth?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: Our goal is to uplift the community by creating spaces that inspire joy, healing, connection, education, and empowerment. We believe celebration and service go hand in hand. That means providing opportunities for cultural expression, health and wellness engagement, leadership development, advocacy, storytelling, and authentic community-building.

We also understand that uplifting the community means meeting people where they are. Sometimes that looks like celebration and joy; other times it looks like access to resources, support systems, affirming spaces, mentorship, and reminding people that they belong. Pittsburgh Black Pride is committed to helping people feel not only celebrated during our events in July but supported throughout the year.

TM: What can community members do to help support others during Black Pride and Juneteenth?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: Support begins with intention. Show up. Listen. Learn. Celebrate. Advocate.

Community members can support others by attending local events, supporting Black owned and LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, volunteering, sharing resources, checking in on loved ones, and amplifying organizations doing meaningful work. Just as importantly, support means creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and valued for who they are.

The strongest communities come from everyday acts of care. Sometimes support looks like advocacy, and sometimes it simply looks like making sure someone knows they are seen, heard, and not alone.

TM: What initiatives can the city, Pittsburgh Black Pride, or even community members take throughout the rest of the year to uphold the values we celebrate in June & July?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: The values we celebrate in June & July —equity, liberation, dignity, belonging, and community care—must extend beyond a single month. A real impact happens when celebration turns into sustained action.

This means investing year-round in culturally responsive healthcare, mental wellness, housing stability, youth mentorship, education, economic opportunity, and safe affirming spaces for Black LGBTQIA+ communities. It also means strengthening partnerships across organizations, institutions, and neighborhoods to create systems rooted in inclusion and accountability.

For community members, the work can begin with simple but meaningful actions: volunteer, advocate, mentor, support local organizations, educate yourself, and commit to showing up consistently. Building stronger communities is a shared responsibility.

TM: What’s one easy way to celebrate Black Pride or Juneteenth even if you’re not headed to one of the big events?

Pittsburgh Black Pride: Celebrate with intention in ways that feel personal and meaningful. Support a local Black owned or LGBTQIA+-owned business, learn about the history behind Black Pride or Juneteenth, have conversations with family and friends, volunteer, donate, or spend time reflecting on the importance of freedom, visibility, and community.

Celebrations do not only happen on stage or in large crowds. It happens in everyday moments—through education, kindness, joy, visibility, and acts of collective care. Even small actions can help strengthen community and honor the spirit of Black Pride and Juneteenth.

Story Kylie Thomas
Photo From Pittsburgh Black Pride

Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.