New York’s Gay Black Pride 2009

A gathering at Riis Beach to celebrate Black Pride in New YorkThe question as to when will this year’s Black Pride festivities take place in New York is on many people’s mind at the moment. Alas, the situation with Black Pride in New York this year is quite murky, in the wake of the demise of POCC, the organization that had been the leading force behind this event.

Last year, POCC (People Of Color In Crisis) canceled most of the events a day before their planned date. Marred by financial trouble and personal drama, POCC pretty much imploded, causing the end of New York’s gay black pride festivities as we knew it. This left a void in the scene that various promoters and community leaders have sought to fill.

This year, it appears that Fred Pierce has taken the helm of New York’s Black Pride – although this particular name will not be used for it has been trademarked by another organization. Black Pride this year will therefore be known as “Jubilation”, and is scheduled to take place on the weekend of July 31. According to its website, Jubilation will be “A cultural festival that commemorates the achievements of the gay and lesbian community of color in New York and surrounding areas”.

What about Riis Beach? The highlight of New York’s black pride has been the traditional gathering at Riis Beach, drawing huge crowds on the shore of Far Rockaway for a day of frolicking under the sun. In 2008, the year when POCC went belly up, the event was not even scheduled to take place, yet hundreds still took the trek to Riis beach on the weekend of black pride in honor of this longstanding tradition.

This year again, no officially sanctioned event is scheduled to take place at Riis beach on the weekend of July 31. Yet, based on last year’s experience, it is fair to assume that many will still go to Riis beach on Sunday afternoon to celebrate Black Pride.

The Jubilation festival has endorsed the annual Fire Island Black Out weekend as their “official” outdoor beach event – although it takes place on the weekend of August 7, which is actually 1 week after Jubilation weekend.

This is all quite confusing, but the take out is that:

  • New York’s Black Pride is called Jubilation and takes place from Friday July 31 to SUnday August 2
  • There is no official event at Riis beach, but it is possible that many will still go there on Sunday afternoon as it has been the tradition
  • The official beach event endorsed by Jubilation is Fire Island Blackout on the weekend of August 7
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  • Randy

    A bunch of us in DC made plans for Pride in the City (Aug 7 thru 9th). Glad we got to this site, guess our plans will be changing. We loved the Riis beach event and even that gathering in the park somewhere in Brooklyn. Come on New York, get it together.

  • http://Dougcooperspencer.Blogspot.Com Doug Cooper Spencer

    Your article conflicts with the information given at the International Federation of Black Prides site (www.IFBPrides.Org), which gives the official black gay pride information for the event, which begins August 7, 2009 and it does list Riis Beach.

  • Jose Mitaynes

    I told a lot of friends to come up for that weekend the 7th through the 9th. i just hope theres a slight change becuase it wont wont be the same somewhere else. My friend came from ATL and is so excited to see those beautiful faces and body and aint we all, plus to reunite with our friends and enjoy the sun. i’m still going but i just dont want it to be dead. come on guys please make this work…..

  • queenofnewyork

    Hey guys,
    Thanks for you replies. I have big reservations about the events listed on the IFBP website. The only currently active website mentioning Gay Black Pride events is that of Jubilation. August 7 is Fire Island Blackout weekend and you can bet that everybody will flock to the island. It has been a very successful event for the past few years. POCC, the organization that used to do “Pride in the city” AKA Black Pride has dismantled. There is quite a lot of promotion currently around the Jubilation events. They have a website, a facebook page, and are sending quite a lot of emails. Whereas there is absolutely no promotion whatsoever done for the so called “Pride in the city”.
    Another resource I found on the subject: check out http://fp1world.com/blog/ or http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117293068112&ref=ts

    From what I’ve heard, it seems the New York black community is behind Jubilation, rather than the other pride events. There was a whole discussion on the subject on a recent episode of the Doo-Dirty show (http://www.dadoo-dirtyshow.com/2009/07/ep-584-tasty-tuesdaysummer-season.html), so I would tend to put my money on Jubilation rather than Pride in the city.

    By the way, I am absolutely not affiliated with either Jubilation or Pride In The City, so all this is just my best guess or educated opinion.

  • Will

    Fire lsland Black Out (FIBO) is a successful beach event. It is not connected to any Pride. It is a circuit party that has stood on it own. Started by two friends with 50 people in 2003 and continue to grow with 2,000 beautiful LGBT last year. This will mark the 7th year and we are expecting over 2,000 LGBT and friends. I can guaratee you will enjoy yourself.

  • Apple

    NYC will get it together. I’m not trying to make excuses for my home town at all. Of all places, you’d think we would have a strong black gay pride event. DC rocked their event. I hear Atlanta is nice too. I have hope that NYC will pull it together. Even if I have to volunteer myself.

  • http://www.naesm.org John

    Black gay pride in new york is being planned by an atlanta based AIDS organization this year. here’s the tentative schedule.

  • John

    Sorry..I didn’t include the website.
    http://www.naesm.org

  • Will

    Fire Island Black Out will be this weekend Aug 7-9. Visit our website at FireIslandBalckout.com
    for details “See you there”

  • Will

    Sorry about that The website is FireIslandblackout.com

  • John in CT

    It’s really too bad that POCC couldn’t recover and put something together for Black Pride. So many people look forward to coming every year, and to have events cancelled the day before? Anyway, the Fire Island Black Out looks like it will be a lot of fun. I’ve never heard of it before, but I hope it’s better than Heritage of Pride’s Party on the Pier.

  • RAINBOWPRINCESS32

    I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT THE DAY THAT PRIDE WAS GOING TO BE AT RIIS BEACH CAUSE MY PARTNER N I WILL BE HAVING OUR WEDDING N RECEPTION AT RIIS BEACH ON AUG18-2012.