Capitol Hill Pride organizers Charlotte LeFevre and Philip Lipson caused an uproar when they had the nerve to bring up an event charging white people a reparations fee.
LeFevre and Lipson learned the Take B(l)ack Pride event, hosted by Queer The Land, Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, and Momma Nikki, plans to charge white guests up to $50.
From the Taking B[l]ack Pride event Facebook page:
****All are free to attend HOWEVER this is a BLACK AND BROWN QUEER TRANS CENTERED, PRIORITIZED, VALUED, EVENT.The safety of Black and Brown Trans and Queer folks is PARAMOUNT and we will make sure the safety of our community is prioritized at all times.White allies and accomplices are welcome to attend, but will be charged a $10 to $50 reparations fee (and given a wrist band as proof of payment) that will be used to keep this event free of cost for BLACK AND BROWN Trans and Queer COMMUNITY but to also ensure that performers can be paid well. ****
LeFevre and Lipson brought up the event to the Seattle Human Rights Commission, which posted the letter on its Twitter account:
It has come to our attention that an event called ‘Take B(l)ack Pride’ at the Jimi Hendrix public park June 26th is charging Whites only admission as reparations. We consider this reverse discrimination in its worse form and we feel we are being attacked for not supporting due to disparaging and hostile e-mails. Please review this event’s stated admission policy as we feel this event is violating Seattle, King County, State and Federal equality laws.Additionally, we would like you to investigate the event as a possible ethics and elections violation as Take B(l)ack Pride is hosted by Nikki Etienne – a campaign manager for Nikkita Oliver who just recently dropped out of our event Capitol Hill Pride over non-support of “Take B(l)ack Pride”.
Nikkita Oliver is a candidate for Seattle City Council’s Position 9.
“We will never charge admission over the color of a person’s skin and we resent being attacked for standing in those values,” concluded LeFevre and Lipson.
It’s possible no one would know about this letter if the Seattle HRC did not post it on its Twitter page.
But it seems Seattle HRC posted the letter to humiliate LeFevre and Lipson. They responded that their concerns do “not in fact violate any of your human rights as stated in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which is the charter by which our Commission operates.”
They also kindly told them to check their privilege:
Furthermore, we would like to urge you to examine the very real social dynamics and ramifications of this issue. Black trans and queer peoples are among the most marginalized and persecuted peoples within the LGBTQIA2S+ community. They often face shame not only from the cis-heteronormative community, but within the queer community at large as well. In making the event free for the Black Queer community, the organizers of this event are extending a courtesy so rarely extended, by providing a free and safe space to express joy, share story, and be in community.We would like to recommend, if possible, that you educate yourself on the harm it may cause Seattle’s BIPOC community in your pursuit of a free ticket to an event that is not expressly meant for you and your entertainment.If you still take issue with this and would resonate better with a reason explained from a white or white passing member of the queer community, we would be happy to connect you with a number of allies.
Well, the humiliation worked because people started to pull out of the Capitol Hill Pride event.
LeFevre and Lipson caved. They apologized:
Dear Community,We apologize for the inquiry to the City of Seattle regarding Take B(l)ack Pride, it was not meant to be an attack or divide but to ensure equality for all.Capitol Hill Pride encourages community events and our mission is to recognize the LGBTQ+ community and all spectrums.We sincerely want to elevate the segment of the LGBTQ community especially of black transgender women, recognize the important history and contributions and support this segment of the hidden rainbow.At this time we have requested an invitation of a meeting of hosting parties to resolve any issues and find common ground.
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