Here’s what this week’s virtual Sacramento Pride has in store

Last year, over 20,000 people filled the Capitol Mall for SacPride, clad in rainbow hues and waving LGBTQ+ flags. This year, the coronavirus has forced the Sacramento LGBT Community Center to move the annual celebration off the city’s streets and onto the socially-distanced platforms of YouTube and Facebook Live.

Despite usually being a two-day affair, virtual SacPride spans the entire week of June 21-28. It boasts a diverse array of events — from a yoga class Tuesday to “lavender graduation” Wednesday to an exclusive makeup tutorial Thursday. Participants can take a workshop on activism and demonstration, or embark on an “artistic walkthrough” of the history of HIV/AIDS; they can enjoy a DJ battle of top LGBTQ+ hits or learn about their zodiac signs from an astrologer.

The festivities will culminate in Sunday’s virtual pride march, with speeches from elected officials and performances from Vincint, Mýa and local entertainers.

Community members can also use the hashtag #TogetherWithPride to be featured on SacPride’s social media or broadcasts.

In one such post, KSFM 1025 host Mia Amor reminds viewers that this year, Pride will “focus heavily on the Black Lives Matter movement and lifting up communities of color.”

While Pride Month coincided with nationwide Black Lives Matter protests this year, it’s always been in June for a reason — it commemorates the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, an important catalyst of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

“51 years ago, instead of running, a crowd led by Black and brown trans folks and drag queens fought back against the police harassment and persecution to which the LGBT community was commonly subjected,” wrote Lanz Nalagan, SacPride organizer, in a recent blog post for the community center.

SacPride’s website has a page called “Support Black Lives,” calling upon non-Black LGBTQ+ people to “start using their privilege” and take action. It provides donation links to Black LGBTQ+ organizations, educational texts and ways of getting involved in racial justice, among other resources.

This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 4:06 PM.